Itch, also called pruritus, affects 15% of the global population, disrupts sleep, and impacts quality of life. Traditional methods of measuring itch rely on subjective surveys, which can be inaccurate and are prone to bias. Alternatively, wearable devices offer a continuous, objective data-driven approach to quantifying itch by measuring scratch, but thus far, their performance has been mixed. Worn on the back of the hand, Sibel's ADAM™ sensor stands out by using AI to detect scratching with 99% accuracy. In prior validation efforts, the ADAM sensor was shown to accurately identify nighttime scratching in adults and children with atopic dermatitis, matching results from infrared video recordings. The device is being used in clinical trials by major global pharmaceutical companies like Almirall as a novel digital endpoint.
"Digital endpoints enabled by wearable devices like the ADAM sensor represent a paradigm shift in the way a drug's therapeutic effect is measured," says Evan Lund, Sibel's Head of Business Development for clinical trials. "We believe that the ADAM sensor is the best validated digital endpoint for scratch monitoring in clinical trials, and we're proud that it's one of only a handful of digital health technologies accepted into the FDA's Drug Development Tools program."
For this new study, Sibel Health embedded a haptic motor within the ADAM sensor. With advanced edge computing, an AI-enabled algorithm programmed into the sensor itself enables closed-loop haptic feedback whenever a scratch is detected. During the first week, the device only measured scratching in atopic dermatitis patients. In the second week, the haptic feedback was turned on to assess the sensor's ability to reduce scratching activity at night. Results showed that on average total scratch events and scratch duration per night dropped by 28% and 40%, respectively. These improvements suggest the closed-loop system is an effective, drug-free way to reduce nighttime scratching. "At Sibel Health, we believe we have the most accurate and best validated sensor for scratching motions in children and adults. We're even more excited to be offering a new therapeutic function. Reducing scratching breaks the itch-scratch cycle. As a board-certified dermatologist, I am always looking for new ways to help my patients manage itch—this would be one of the few non-pharmacological ways to do so and can also be paired with a traditional therapeutic," says Steve Xu MD, CEO and co-founder of Sibel Health.
"Achieving this high degree of accuracy with a deep learning model on an edge device was a significant challenge, but doing so allows us to deliver rapid haptic feedback in real time without sacrificing battery life," says Dylan Richards, Sibel's Head of Data Science and co-author of the article. "By pairing high fidelity signals, comfortable sensors, and edge-computing AI models, we've created a self-contained system that can both detect scratching and immediately alert patients."
Sibel Health has partnered with Maruho, a prominent pharmaceutical company specializing in dermatology, to further develop and distribute this technology. Together, they aim to deploy this first of its kind wearable device that reduces scratching behavior for people suffering from itch. "The cutting-edge technology developed by Sibel Health has opened new doors for both assessment and treatment of patients suffering from chronic itch. We are excited to add this device to our portfolio for itch and be helpful to those patients by completing development and launching the product as soon as possible in our partnership," says Akihiko Ikoma MD, Senior Medical Director of Maruho. Benjy Monteagudo, Senior Product Manager for digital therapeutics, at Sibel Health, states, "we're really excited to be working with Maruho, a prominent company in dermatology, to commercialize this product further beyond clinical trials to directly enable clinical care." This collaboration marks an important step toward the use of digital health tools to personalize care for patients suffering from itch-related conditions.
About Sibel Health:
Sibel Health is an award-winning digital health company with a mission to deliver Better Health Data for All®. Based in Chicago with an international office in Seoul, Sibel Health is a leading provider of advanced healthcare technology, with FDA clearance for vital signs monitoring capabilities, sleep analysis, and novel digital endpoints such as scratch, swallow, and cough detection. Sibel Health is committed to improving patient outcomes through innovative digital health solutions. For more information, please visit us at www.sibelhealth.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Maruho:
Maruho Co., Ltd. has its head office in Osaka and leads Japan in research and development, manufacturing and commercialization of dermatological products. Founded in 1915, Maruho has 1,620 employees (as of the end of September 2024), and net sales were approximately 87.00 billion yen in its fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. With the mission "More smiles, brighter life for you", Maruho aims to help realize a society where everyone can live with a smile. For more information, please visit https://www.maruho.co.jp/english/.
Media Contact: [email protected]
SOURCE Sibel Health
Share this article