可监测睡眠呼吸暂停的戒指

A hi-tech ring worn on a finger at night could detect sleep apnoea*, a potentially dangerous snoring condition which can increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes*.

The research was recently reported at the European Respiratory Society Conference.

Made from soft silicone*, the ring is packed with sensors which track changes in blood oxygen levels as the patient sleeps. A fall in blood oxygen readings at night is one of the main signs of sleep apnoea. This is because, as the airways* momentarily* collapse, the amount of oxygen getting into the bloodstream is reduced.

The ring is worn on the middle or ring finger, where there is a larger volume of blood flowing than in other fingers.

Attached to the ring is a small capsule* containing tiny bulbs that beam red light through the skin. This light penetrates tiny blood vessels near the surface and is absorbed by a protein in the blood called haemoglobin*, which carries oxygen around the body.

The sensor measures how much light is being absorbed, which would indicate whether someone has poor oxygen levels. Healthy oxygen saturation* levels are 95-100 percent. Anything below 90 percent is a cause for concern and could indicate sleep apnoea.

The ring also contains an accelerometer* — a tiny device that monitors arm movements through the night. This can determine how frequently someone is waking up and adjusting their body position because their breathing has been interrupted.

Once the brain realizes breathing has stopped, it wakes you up and sends out a signal for the airway muscles to contract*, which opens the airway.

(SD-Agencies)