The Next Generation of Sleep: Contactless and Wearable Innovations
- Denby Williams
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Among the United States population, it is estimated that 50-70 million U.S. adults have some sort of chronic sleep disorder (most notably Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, Restless Legs Syndrome, and Narcolepsy), with around 84 million not getting uninterrupted sleep. Combined, that is around half of the population! Without the treatment of sleep disorders, this is linked to eventual serious health problems like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, drastically
shortening the lifespan of many. With technological advancements sweeping the country, "screentime" before bed becomes more of a disruptor in suppressing melatonin and disrupting your internal clock, so to speak. As many of these sleep disorders remain undiagnosed, it has become a luxury among Americans to participate in an extensive sleep study. Luckily, with recent advancements in wearable and contactless sleep monitoring, sleep studies can now be conducted in the comfort of your own home without incurring financial strain.
WHAT IS WEARABLE SLEEP MONITORING?:
Wearable sleep monitoring is physical devices like wristbands, smartwatches, rings, and headbands used to measure differences in movement, breathing, and heart rate. You might be wondering how these monitors track your biological movement; these devices operate on two different levels of sensors: actigraphy and photoplethysmography (PPG). Actigraphy is defined as "the measurement of your
activity and rest." (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). Over longterm monitoring, actigraphy identifies patterns of activity within your sleep. Whether that be for insomnia, hypersomnia, or circadian rhythm disorders, actigraphy, however, does not measure periodic limb movement disorder or restless legs syndrome. Observing the data collection, it continuously records waking movements and light sensors. PPG, on the other hand, measures blood volume changes in tissues, heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. By doing this, both the actigraphy and PPG create a comprehensive sleeping profile.
WHAT IS CONTACTLESS SLEEPWEAR MONITORING?:
Contactless sleepwear monitoring is also known as 'smart pajamas'. In these pajamas, sensors are embedded directly into the fabric and use physiological tracking that monitors heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep posture. With the collaboration of AI software, the monitoring can also identify sleep stages and can be transmitted wirelessly to your computer for analysis. While most of the adult clothing is still being developed by research teams and accessible through sleep specialists, affordable pajamas from companies like 'Nanit' are available for children aged 3-24 months.
REFERENCES:
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, August 16). What Is Actigraphy? Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/25196-actigraphy
Park, J., Seok, H. S., Kim, S.-S., & Shin, H. (2022). Photoplethysmogram Analysis and Applications: An Integrative Review. Frontiers in Physiology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.808451
Abay, T. Y., & Kyriacou, P. A. (2018). Photoplethysmography for blood volumes and oxygenation changes during intermittent vascular occlusions. Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing, 32(3), 447–455. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10877-017-0030-2
mrr5831. (2025, June 20). Wearable Sleep Monitoring Device May Improve Detection of Sleep Disorders - News Center. News Center. https://news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2025/06/20/wearable-sleep-monitoring-device-may-improve-detection-of-sleep-disorders/
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