By Lindsey Nolen
In the field of sleep medicine, obtaining accurate and reliable data is paramount for proper diagnosis and treatment. This is the driving force behind Dymedix Diagnostics, a company that has been at the forefront of developing innovative diagnostic sleep sensors and electrodes for clinical sleep studies. Founded in 2001, Dymedix’s origins can be traced back to an engineer named Peter Staz, who stumbled upon a material called polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).
”PVDF is now becoming a more and more recognized acronym within the sleep community. PVDF is a material that generates its own electrical signal when stimulated by temperature change, movement, vibration, or pressure,” explains Todd Eiken, RPSGT, FAAST, vice president of Product Development. “So it’s the perfect material for monitoring many kinds of physiological signals.”
Ultimately, it was this discovery that led to the creation of Dymedix’s very first product—an oral-nasal airflow sensor placed under the nose to monitor airflow during sleep. Traditional airflow sensors at the time were often slow and unresponsive, prompting Dymedix to revolutionize the industry with its innovative PVDF technology.
According to Eiken, this new technology provided an opportunity to elevate sleep disorder testing centers to the next level. From these early devices, Dymedix has grown exponentially, now offering the most comprehensive line of sleep diagnostic sensors on the market.
PVDF’s Sensitivity and Multi-Factor Sensing
At the core of Dymedix’s success lies the patented PVDF technology, a game-changer in sleep diagnostics due to its extreme sensitivity. As Eiken explained, while small physiological signals were previously difficult to amplify without introducing extraneous noise, Dymedix’s innovative approach has effectively harnessed PVDF technology for producing extremely accurate and reliable sleep-related waveforms that were once challenging to detect.
“[Staz] was able to come up with unique frequency filtration approaches embedded in a small inline module that would connect to the recording equipment, and provide much stronger and faster output signals to PSG machines used in the sleep lab,” Eiken says.
As he explained, this innovative approach not only amplifies the signals of interest but also filters out unwanted frequencies and noise, ensuring the highest quality waveforms for accurate analysis. The result is a level of precision and responsiveness unmatched by traditional sensors, with PVDF responding to stimuli in just 5 milliseconds.
The wide range of stimuli that Dymedix’s PVDF technology can respond to is another key advantage of the technology. Its multi-factor sensing capability is particularly beneficial in sleep studies.
Eiken illustrates this with the example of their airflow sensor placed underneath a person’s nose, where the PVDF material responds to temperature changes as the patient inhales and exhales. Additionally, the sensor detects pressure from exhaled airflow and vibration from snoring, providing more comprehensive data. This unparalleled sensitivity ensures that even the most subtle changes in breathing patterns are accurately captured, enabling precise diagnoses by sleep specialists.
“With one TriplePlay airflow sensor, you can detect all of the potential types of sleep-disordered breathing events and snoring at the same time,” Eiken says.
In addition to its technological advancements, Dymedix places a strong emphasis on patient comfort, recognizing that comfortable and undisturbed sleep is essential for accurate data collection. Eiken stresses that pediatric patients are “not little adults,” and that tailored sensor solutions are necessary for sensitive patient populations like infants and children.
To address this need, Dymedix has developed its Lullaby sensor line, designed specifically for pediatric patients. As part of the Lullaby line, the company has introduced an Infant Frequency Filtration Module (iFM) to boost and amplify low tidal volume airflow signals typical of infants, ensuring accurate airflow monitoring without compromising comfort.
Dymedix Disposable and Reusable Solutions
Dymedix’s commitment to innovation extends beyond its core technology, with the company offering an extensive range of disposable sleep sensor options. One of the key advantages of PVDF is its thin, film-like construction, which lends itself perfectly to single-use, disposable sensors. The emphasis on disposable solutions was especially important during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many sleep labs shifted toward eliminating the risk of cross-contamination.
”We clearly saw an increased interest in moving to disposables. The perfect solution for cross-contamination is to use single-use sensors and simply throw them away,” Eiken emphasizes.
Through its line of disposable sensors, Dymedix has also made it a priority to ensure compliance with industry standards set by organizations like the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
”Every one of our products has been FDA-cleared,” Eiken says.
He adds that the company has consistently adhered to AASM technical specifications for accreditation throughout its 20-year history.
The Future: Sensor Kits and Continuous Innovation
Looking ahead, Dymedix remains committed to its “always innovating” philosophy, with a strong focus on its recently introduced sensor kit products.
“There are so many advantages to using a sensor kit, not only because of the ease of use for the technologist when setting up the patient for testing but also when it comes to ordering and maintaining inventory of these sensors,” Eiken says.
Further, the company’s latest innovation in this arena is the MyCustomPSG Kit, which allows users to handpick the specific sensors they prefer in the kit. This provides yet another tailored solution to meet individual needs and preferences.
Beyond the sensor kits, Dymedix remains vigilant in monitoring industry trends and exploring opportunities for new sensor types or improvements to existing monitoring technologies. With a team of registered sleep technologists, respiratory therapists, and electroencephalographic (EEG) technologists, Eiken believes the company is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sleep diagnostics.
“We always keep abreast of trends that are going on in terms of sleep sensing technology,” Eiken says. “All of us are tuned into what’s happening. If we become aware of opportunities for new types of sensors, or improvements in current methods of sensing physiological sleep-related data, [we’ll pursue them].”
This unwavering commitment to innovation has been the driving force behind Dymedix’s success for over two decades, and will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of sleep medicine for years to come.
Lindsey Nolen is a healthcare journalist based in Jacksonville, Fla.