| Tedream

| Thin sensors attached to the forehead, chest, and forearm

| Hospital-level sleep data measurement enabled

Woon-Hong Yeo, co-CEO of WisMedical, holds a wireless sensor sticker for the "Tedream," a sleep diagnostic device that allows users to easily perform polysomnography at home.

By attaching three wireless sensors to the body, users can perform polysomnography anytime, anywhere. By JinHan Lee, likeday@donga.com

The number of people suffering from sleep problems such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and snoring is increasing. To diagnose sleep disorders, hospitals perform polysomnography (PSG). However, because it requires patients to wear over 20 wired sensors and sleep in unfamiliar environments, accurate measurements can sometimes be difficult. 

To address these inconveniences, a new medical device has emerged. Developed by WisMedical, the sleep diagnostic device "Tedream" uses just three wireless sensors that attach like stickers to measure sleep data at home, just like in a hospital setting. Woon-Hong Yeo, a distinguished professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, serves as WisMedical's co-CEO and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He is commercializing patient-friendly sleep diagnostic devices using his own technology. We met with CEO Yeo to learn about his sleep diagnostic technology and vision.

―What kind of company is WisMedical?

"WisMedical is a startup developing wearable devices that can conveniently measure sleep quality and sleep apnea wirelessly at home, rather than in a hospital. Previously, sleep testing required staying at a hospital for at least a day and wearing over 20 wired devices. WisMedical has replaced this with three small, lightweight wireless sensors. We also have the technology to achieve the same level of accuracy as hospital equipment."

―What is a polysomnography test?

"Sleep disorders aren't simply a matter of fatigue; they're a serious condition that can threaten the health of the brain, heart, and blood vessels. There are approximately 2 million sleep apnea patients in Korea, and nearly 1 billion worldwide. To diagnose sleep apnea, hospitals perform a sophisticated test called polysomnography. Patients sleep in a hospital sleep room with 20 to 30 sensors attached to their entire body, measuring their vital signs. However, the unfamiliar environment, complex equipment, and unnatural sleeping conditions hinder accurate diagnosis. To overcome this, we developed Tedream."

―What is Tedream technology?

"Tedream is a device designed to provide a convenient, wireless at-home alternative to hospital-based polysomnography. By attaching three wireless sensors, as thin as stickers, to the forehead, chest, and arm, it can measure sleep data with hospital-level precision. This technology, developed directly at Georgia Tech, is based on various core technologies, including ultra-small sensors, flexible attachment materials, and high-precision signal processing algorithms."

―How does it differ from the sleep tracking capabilities of existing smartwatches and bands?

"While smartwatches and bands these days offer sleep tracking capabilities, they only analyze heart rate and movement, making it difficult to diagnose sleep apnea or perform specialized analysis. Tedream provides accurate and comprehensive medical-level data required by hospitals. It's a device that combines convenience and accuracy."

―Where is it being used?

"It's currently being supplied to hospitals and research institutes domestically and internationally as a research device, and we plan to receive medical device approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety within the year. We anticipate that it will be used as an actual medical device in hospitals starting next year."

―What is your vision for the future?

"As a Seoul Bio Hub resident company, we are leveraging our diverse resources and network to advance technology development and product commercialization. We also plan to actively expand into the global market through collaborations with Georgia Tech and Atlanta hospitals. Having been selected as a digital healthcare open innovation company through the Seoul Bio Hub and Draper Startup House late last year, we will be able to showcase our technology on a wider global stage. We will continue to focus on developing technologies to help more people enjoy a comfortable night's sleep."

Lee JinHan, medical journalist and doctor, likeday@donga.com
Dong-A Ilbo
Posted 2025-08-13 03:00 AM

Updated 2025-08-13 03:24 AM 

https://www.donga.com/news/It/article/all/20250812/132167703/2