The News, Explained

On November 3, Samsung announced that Galaxy Ring now supports its feature for detecting signs of sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly pauses or becomes shallow during sleep. In October, Samsung had listed the Ring in the first group of devices set to get the feature in Korea in November. The new option collects readings from a ring worn on a finger as well as from supported watches. Source Source

Results appear in Samsung Health Monitor on a compatible Galaxy phone. According to documents filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the software uses sensor readings from the Ring, including changes in blood oxygen and movement, to look for recurring breathing disruptions during sleep. Samsung’s Korean announcement says the updated report adds three levels for how often disruptions were observed per hour, from mild through occasional to frequent. The levels describe the frequency the device recorded. Source Source Source

The feature is intended for adults 18 and older who have not previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Users start a measurement when they need it, and the feature requires two nights of valid readings within 10 days. Samsung’s Korean guidance specifies at least five hours of sleep per recording. Two nights must meet the recording conditions before there is a result. Source Source Source

The stated use in the FDA documents is to look for signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. The Ring’s readings can give users something to bring to a consultation. Diagnosis and treatment rely on an evaluation by a qualified clinician. Source Source Source

OYOPICK’s Take

A ring gives people who find a wrist device uncomfortable at night another way to collect readings. Suppose you sleep four hours the first night and more than five the second. Under Samsung’s Korean guidance, that still falls short of two qualifying nights on duration alone. We would like the app to make it easy to tell when it needs more readings. Once it has a result, clearly separating the frequency recorded by the Ring from what a clinician assesses would help people use the report in a consultation. Source Source Source