Sleep EEG: Bridging the Gap

Smartwatches are widely used to measure sleep, but they are often inaccurate since they only estimate brain activity. Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for sleep measurement but it is restricted to a lab, requires a trained technician and is expensive and cumbersome. The IDUN Guardian strikes a balance between both, combining the wearability of smartwatch with the accuracy of the PSG in capturing sleep EEG.

person in bed using the IDUN Guardian mobile app to start a sleep recording

sleep microarchitecture as measured by one-channel in-ear EEG earbuds

Validated for Reliability and Accuracy

Analysis of EEG signals provides rich insight into sleep onset and sleep stages. EEG signals can be used to identify different types of brain signals, including alpha, beta, delta, and theta waves, which are associated with different stages of sleep. In addition to quantifying sleep stages, EEG signals can also be used to assess sleep quality and potentially detect sleep disorders such as sleep onset insomnia and narcolepsy. The IDUN Guardian has been validated against the PSG and found to accurately capture sleep microarchitecture.

Sleep markers shown by in-ear EEG data:

Shift from high-frequency activity to low-frequency activity (Wake – N1)
Eye movements (Wake – N1 and possibly also for REM classification)
Sleep Spindles (N2)
K-Complexes (N2)
Slow-wave sleep (N3)
Breathing patterns

Advantages of the IDUN Guardian over the PSG

Convenient
can be used in the comfort of home

Comfortable
ergonomic design to provide comfort to the user during sleep

Easy-to-use
easy for the user to set up without needing a trained technician

Long-term sleep monitoring
can be used regularly for longitudinal sleep recordings