St Cloud, Minnesota Patent of the Year – 2024/2025
VivaQuant Inc. has been awarded the 2024/2025 Patent of the Year for innovation in sleep disorder detection. Their invention, detailed in U.S. Patent No. 11931142, titled ‘Apneic/hypopneic assessment via physiological signals’, introduces a novel method to identify breathing disturbances using cardiac signals.
This breakthrough technology detects apneas and hypopneas by analyzing changes in a person’s heart rhythm and other physiological patterns. Unlike traditional systems that rely on bulky sleep lab equipment, VivaQuant’s approach enables accurate detection using more compact and wearable devices.
The system evaluates changes in heart rate, respiration, and other bodily signals to assess sleep-related breathing disorders. It can operate remotely and in real time, supporting continuous monitoring outside clinical settings. This offers a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to overnight lab studies.
The innovation addresses a growing need for better sleep diagnostics as millions remain undiagnosed or undertreated. It supports early detection and ongoing management of sleep apnea, a condition linked to heart disease, stroke, and fatigue-related accidents.
VivaQuant’s patented method has the potential to transform how clinicians and consumers track sleep health. By turning heart signals into actionable insight, the technology could bring advanced diagnostics into homes, clinics, and digital health platforms worldwide.