Diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnea Using Electromyography of the Muscles of the Mouth

Given night-to-night variability and/or changes in OSA severity over time, study participants will undergo a 2-night home sleep test to verify the results of a prior sleep test as part of our screening activities. After verifying that the results of the home sleep test are concordant with the participant's previously administered clinical sleep study, they will be brought to the study clinic. Participants from both arms will undergo testing of four oropharyngeal muscles: left and right palatoglossus, left and right genioglossus. Using the transmembranous electromyography (tmEMG) probe, recordings will be obtained from each muscle using various provocative maneuvers. For the palatoglossus, recordings will be obtained during normal shallow inspiration as well as deep forceful inspiration. For the genioglossus, recordings will be obtained during maximal voluntary contraction as well sub-maximal voluntary contraction of the tongue against resistance (either the buccal mucosa or the front incisors).