A team of researchers from the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) has been working on a new imaging technique that could make it easier to identify and diagnose sleep apnea. This approach also hopes to shed light on what causes the condition. Their findings were recently shared in Biophotonics Discovery.
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a surprisingly common sleep disorder where the airway gets blocked repeatedly during sleep, causing disrupted breathing. Even with all the advancements in medical technology, diagnosing OSA still has its challenges. Many current methods just can’t fully capture what’s happening with the airway while someone is asleep. That’s why researchers have been on the hunt for a better, less invasive way to diagnose OSA and help guide treatment.
The recent study explored an exciting new imaging technique that could change how we understand and treat sleep apnea. The method involves using swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT)—a technology you might recognize from eye exams. But here’s the twist: researchers adapted it to visualize the upper airway with incredible detail. By tweaking the OCT system with a special device, they were able to extend its range and capture high-resolution, 3D images of the airway, both while the subject was awake and during sleep.
For this study, they worked with a 28-year-old patient dealing with sleep-disordered breathing. The OCT system allowed the team to create 3D reconstructions of the patient’s airway, showing how it changed between waking and sleeping. They found the most significant blockage in the oropharynx—the part of the airway at the back of the mouth—which is a common trouble spot for OSA.
To make things even more precise, they added computational fluid dynamics (CFD) into the mix. This technique let them simulate airflow through the airway and spot areas of turbulence—basically, where the airflow was being disrupted the most. Combining these two approaches, the team was able to pinpoint exactly where the worst blockages were happening during sleep.
This new imaging method could be a game-changer for diagnosing and treating OSA. By giving doctors a clearer, more detailed view of the airway and how air moves through it, this approach could make surgical planning more effective and improve outcomes for patients. It’s an exciting step forward in tackling this common and often underdiagnosed condition.
Journal Reference:
Jing, C, J., et al. (2024) Optical coherence tomography to identify upper airway obstruction sites in an apneic patient. Biophotonics Discovery.doi.org/10.1117/1.BIOS.1.3.035002