AMERICAN SLEEP RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Defining Sleep Quality Criteria Through Qualitative Evaluation and Biomechanical Research.

A Pioneer--American Sleep Research Institute

This fully modernized sleep and biomechanical research/testing facility is the only one of its kind in the United States.

ASRI is solely dedicated to developing measurable, objective criteria to be applied to the study of sleep quality.

Evaluation, Validation and Certification

Because of growing requirements for evaluation and certification by the FDA and various other institutions and agencies for an increasing number of sleep-related products--bedding, pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic supplies--ASRI offers manufacturers specialized evaluation of their product's performance and value, and its relationship to the quality of sleep.

Through qualitative evaluation, utilizing polysomnographic and subjective measures, assessment of qualified product performance can be determined.

ASRI is the only research facility targeted to meet today's demand for commercial/industrial testing of sleep-related products.

Biomechanical Research -- Qualitative Studies

ASRI's biomechanical research focuses on the correlation between product design, comfort and sleep.

Having selected the research criteria that suggestively defines quality sleep, ASRI biomechanically measures a product's performance.

Through biomechanic research, it is possible to determine how effective a product is in regard to enhancing user comfort.

Additionally, qualitative sleep studies using human subjects are conducted to further define product performance.

ASRI utilizes a fully automated, environmentally controlled, six room, two-bed facility, with the ability to regulate/monitor temperature, humidity, light/sound and the physiological changes of sleeping subjects.

Further capabilities include two state-of-the-art EEG machines, computerized spinal modeling analysis and a white sound machine.

Qualitative sleep studies and comparative analysis are conducted, using the aforementioned technology to monitor human subjects while they sleep.

EEG and other polysomnographic variables are recorded throughout the various sleep cycles. Objectively monitored are over 20 sleep variables that include:

Sleep Stages

• -Sleep Latency --The number of minutes before the onset of a measurable sleep cycle.
• -Sleep Efficiency --The percentage of time spent in bed versus the time spent asleep.
• -Micro-Arousals --Rate per hour of measurable, but brief, changes during sleep to waking brain wave activity.
• -Major Body Repositioning --Rate of major body position changes per hour.

In addition to EEG and other readings, sleep subjects are monitored via closed circuit TV for visual observation of sleep activity and future analysis.

All polysomnographic measures are conducted, then followed by a post sleep subject survey to determine subjective assessment of sleep quality. Subjects respond to questions designed to elicit their subjective opinions regarding the product tested.

After comparative analysis of both the scientific/biomechanical data and the subjective survey results, ASRI provides a detailed summary of all test findings, as they apply to the research objective.

In Conclusion

ASRI was created to meet the growing need for specialized commercial/industrial research and testing of products relating to sleep physiology, human factors and biomechanics.

ASRI offers manufacturers and suppliers specialized evaluation of their product's performance and physiological relationship to sleep quality.

The ASRI staff are experienced, qualified research technicians and are registered Polysomnographic Technologists.

Pioneering the field of sleep normalcy--ASRI is the sole authority in helping to define sleep quality criteria, through qualitative evaluation and biomechanical research.

The ASRI Seal of Approval is granted only to those products whose biomechanical and qualitative research findings consistently suggest superior sleep quality.

Land and Sky is providing space on the Web for ASRI.