By Bill Freeman
A UK doctor has developed a portable machine, dubbed the “Snore Box”, that can spot the difference between normal snoring and the potentially dangerous sleep disorder sleep apnoea. In the UK, a single night in a sleep laboratory can cost
A UK doctor has developed a portable machine, dubbed the “Snore Box”, that can spot the difference between normal snoring and the potentially dangerous sleep disorder sleep apnoea. In the UK, a single night in a sleep laboratory can cost £1,800 ($2,600), however the patient can use the machine during a normal nights sleep at home. The Snore Box works by monitoring the severity of snoring and measuring the patient’s blood oxygen levels via a thimble-like device attached to the end of a finger. Temporary drops in oxygen levels suggest that the patient has sleep apnoea, while stable levels indicate a noisy snorer. According to Jon Osborne, the surgeon behind the Snore Box, the invention will enable doctors to quickly determine patients who require surgery and “avoids unnecessary, painful and often unsuccessful surgery for patients who won’t benefit from it.” The Snore Box will be available in the UK in 2003.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.bbc.co.uk on the 27th December 2001