Touted as a first-of-its-kind sleep mask, Somalytics Inc. is launching its SomaSleep sleep mask at CES 2023. Aimed at improving the quality of sleep, the sleep mask can track eye movement, including rapid eye movements (REM), to help consumers better understand sleep stages and sleep disruptions.
(Source: Somalytics)
Somalytics said the sleep mask collects data that has not been possible through an in-home device. The sleep mask can track all stages of sleep, which can be disrupted by medications, disease, injury, and neurologic illnesses, said Barbara Barclay, CEO of Somalytics.
“Sleep problems affect the lives of billions of people, and understanding the quality of sleep is at the heart of the solution,” Barclay said in a statement. “REM is critical for learning and memory. Things such as snoring, back and leg problems, medication, anti-depressants, concussions, stroke, and other neurologic illnesses can disrupt sleep and in particular, REM. Until now the only option to track REM was through sleep centers, where data is typically manually interpreted. With SomaSleep, we are enabling consumers to track all stages of sleep including REM in the comfort and privacy of their own homes through a lightweight, easy-to-use sleep mask.”
At the heart of the sleep mask is the SomaCap carbon-nanotube paper composite (CPC) capacitive sensors, which is used to track eye movement. Claimed as the industry’s smallest nano-based capacitive sensor and a new sensor category, these tiny devices are designed to improve the user experience in consumer electronics, AR/VR, the IoT, health and wellness, and transportation applications thanks to their greater sensitivity in a smaller size, lower power consumption, and lower cost to manufacture.
The miniature CPC capacitive sensors feature a <1-mm diameter and provide high sensitivity to human tissue, detecting human presence at up to 20 centimeters with any skin tone or eye shape. It also delivers low latency of <3 ms and speeds up to 1,000 Hz.
Due to the miniature size of the sensors and because they are extremely thin like paper, they can be embedded in almost anything including phones, play stations, and VR goggles, Barclay told EP last year. “Somalytics’ sensors will open an entire new era for wearable eye tracking because the sensors are not camera based and there is no illumination of the eye required. The processing speed is under 3 ms, and the sampling rate is 10 times faster than best-in-class existing technologies.”
Sleep mask
SomaSleep works by tracking and classifying eye movements, including REM, for closed or open eyes during sleep or while awake. This data provides consumers with their sleep patterns to help explain fatigue, which also can be shared with their doctors when their sleep pattern changes.
The SomaSleep mask will operate via battery for eight hours. The mask remains cool, said the company, due to its low power consumption. Data can be integrated via a software development kit (SDK) with leading consumer fitness trackers or will be available through the SomaSleep mobile app.
Somalytics, spun out of CoMotion at the University of Washington, in November 2021, is funded by IP Group Inc. and WRF Capital. By the end of 2023, Somalytics expects to mass produce its sensors at the company’s new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Redmond, Washington.
The Consumer Technology Association recognized the SomaCap as a 2023 CES Innovation Award honoree in the Embedded Technology category. Somalytics will launch SomaSleep at table 319 at CES Unveiled on Jan. 3. The company is exhibiting in the Las Vegas Convention Center Central Hall, booth 18490. SomaSleep is expected to be available for consumer purchase by December 2023 for $199.
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