Samsung is partnering with Stanford Medicine to advance research for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) detection and management through FDA-authorised Galaxy Watch technology.
Announced on World Health Day, the collaboration aims to enhance Samsung’s AI-driven Sleep Apnea feature, initially focusing on a study to refine proactive sleep health interventions.
Dr Hon Pak, Head of Digital Health at Samsung, explained: “This collaboration combines our technological expertise with Stanford’s research capabilities to unlock innovations in preventive care.
“We aim to move beyond screening to provide daily support, helping users better understand and manage their sleep health.”
The project, led by Stanford professors Robson Capasso and Clete Kushida, seeks to evolve Samsung’s existing OSA tool – which received the FDA’s first-ever De Novo classification for a sleep apnea feature – into a comprehensive daily monitoring system. By integrating AI, the partners hope to shift from early detection to ongoing management, empowering users to mitigate long-term health risks linked to untreated OSA.
The current Sleep Apnea detection from Samsung, available on compatible Galaxy Watch models, currently screens for moderate-to-severe OSA during sleep.
Following recent approval from Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), the tool will launch there in late April, expanding its reach to 29 markets worldwide. Samsung plans further global rollout to help users identify symptoms earlier and reduce complications such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Professor Capasso, Chief of Sleep Surgery at Stanford, commented: “The ethical, equitable, and evidence-based use of technology, after its validation through research, is crucial in developing new approaches to detection and management of sleep apnea and other serious sleep-related health conditions.
“We are excited about this groundbreaking collaboration and proud to be initiating a study utilising smartwatches, a friendly and commonly accepted wearable.”
Affecting nearly one billion adults globally, OSA disrupts breathing during sleep and heightens risks for chronic conditions. Despite its prevalence, an estimated 80% of cases remain undiagnosed.
Samsung’s feature, which requires two nights of monitoring per month, analyses blood oxygen levels and heart rate patterns to flag potential OSA—offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional clinical sleep studies.
While current iterations focus on detection, the Stanford partnership will explore predictive analytics and personalised recommendations. Future enhancements could include real-time breathing adjustments or environmental optimisations, such as syncing with smart home devices to regulate room temperature.
As wearables gain clinical credibility, such collaborations may redefine preventive healthcare—one night’s sleep at a time.
(Image credit: Samsung)
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