Transcend, the new wearable sleep apnea therapy device designed by Somnetics International Inc, now measures apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). While AHI measurement is not new to CPAPs, it is a new standard feature on Transcend, thereby giving users added value at no additional cost.

Used to assess the severity of a patient’s sleep apnea, AHI is a numerical measure that accounts for the number of pauses in breathing per hour of sleep. Leak detection helps assess the appropriateness of the mask used by the patient. In measuring AHI and leak detection, Transcend also helps assess the efficacy of the patient’s pressure setting. Valuable to both patients and doctors, this information can be used to identify issues with the therapy and to determine how changes to the system setup affect overall treatment.

In addition to basic compliance data, AHI and leak detection data is stored on the device and can be downloaded to a computer using a data card or directly via the USB port. Transcend comes with proprietary software that lets the patient e-mail data directly to their physician.