ISES: Sleep Monitoring System for Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders can cause different symptoms in women and men. This also applies to obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), in which repeated pauses in breathing interrupt sleep. An estimated 6 to 12% of people in Germany are affected, older people more often than younger ones. In women in particular, OSAS often goes undetected. While typical symptoms such as heavy snoring and observed pauses in breathing may be in the foreground in men, women more often suffer from exhaustion, insomnia or morning headaches. Their complaints may therefore be attributed to other causes such as stress, depression or the menopause. A better understanding of these gender-specific differences could help avoid misdiagnoses and treat those affected in a targeted way earlier. This is because undetected or inadequately treated OSAS can, in the long term, increase the risk of secondary diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke or heart attack. This is where the ISES research project comes in: the aim is to better understand gender-specific differences in OSAS and to create the basis for earlier and more individual diagnosis and treatment.

How does ISES work?

The project is developing an AI-based sleep monitoring system that records important bodily functions during sleep. A contactless radar technology measures breathing and heartbeat, among other things. In addition, a particularly skin-friendly and barely noticeable EEG system is used. Sensors and a miniaturised amplifier make the measurement as comfortable as possible. The data collected is evaluated digitally and analysed with the help of artificial intelligence. In this way, the researchers want to better recognise how OSAS differs in women and men and which features are relevant for gender-specific diagnosis.

Developed together for primary care

ISES places particular value on developing and testing the system together with the people who will use it later. To this end, corresponding demonstrators and care processes are tested in primary care. In this way, the researchers can gain additional data for OSAS research and at the same time investigate how AI-supported sleep monitoring can be meaningfully integrated into everyday general practice.

Prospects for early and individual diagnosis

A better understanding of gender-specific differences in OSAS can help reduce misdiagnoses and underdiagnosis and treat those affected in a targeted way earlier. In the long term, the findings are intended to enable more individual and gender-sensitive care and help avoid the health consequences of undetected or inadequately treated sleep apnoea syndrome. ISES combines innovative sensor technology and artificial intelligence with gender-sensitive research – for sleep diagnostics that take women and men better into account.

Project information

Consortium coordinator avisé labs GmbH, Dortmund Marius Khan

Partners Brain Products GmbH Software and Hardware for Neurophysiological Research Applications, Gilching Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg - Faculty VI - Medicine and Health Sciences - Department of Health Services Research - Division of General Practice Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology (IDMT) - Branch for Hearing, Speech and Audio Technology HSA, Oldenburg Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg - Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital - Centre for Internal Medicine - Section for Gender-Sensitive Medicine and Prevention

Volume €1.51 million (89% funded by BMFTR)

Duration 11/2025 - 10/2028