Finding which part of the throat closes in sleep apnea using snoring sounds
Determination of the site of pharyngeal collapse in Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients from snoring sounds
['FUNDING_R01'] · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · NIH-11146632
This project uses recordings of snoring to identify which part of the throat collapses during sleep in people with obstructive sleep apnea.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11146632 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would have your snoring recorded while a sleep doctor performs a drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) so researchers can match sound features to the exact site of throat collapse in about 800 people. A smaller group will later have natural sleep endoscopy to confirm that the same sound patterns occur during real sleep. Then you'll record snoring at home on multiple nights to see if the same collapse-related sounds can be captured outside the clinic and are reproducible. The team will use those clinic and home recordings to build an algorithm that estimates the collapse site from snoring sounds.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with diagnosed or suspected obstructive sleep apnea who snore and are willing to undergo sleep endoscopy and home audio recordings.
Not a fit: People who do not snore, those with central (non-obstructive) sleep apnea, or anyone unwilling to undergo endoscopy or provide home recordings may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let patients learn their collapse site noninvasively at home and help guide more personalized treatment choices.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller prior studies have linked snore sounds to collapse patterns, but this project is larger and aims to create and validate a clinically useful algorithm.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WELLMAN, DAVID ANDREW — BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: WELLMAN, DAVID ANDREW
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.