Towards quantitative characterization of airway collapse in obstructive sleep apnea

Motivation: The motivation for this research study is to better understand and characterize upper-airway collapse during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study aims to provide valuable insights into the dynamics of airway collapse. Goal(s): The main goal is to quantitatively assess upper-airway collapse dynamics in both OSA and normal individuals, developing imaging phenotypes. Approach: The research methodology involves data collection using MRI, manual analysis for quantitative imaging phenotypes, and presenting qualitative and quantitative findings. Results: The study effectively visualizes airway collapse patterns in normal and OSA patients, develops quantitative imaging phenotypes, and distinguishes various collapse patterns. Impact: The study's results provide researchers with new, quantitative insights into upper-airway collapse in sleep apnea. This may enable more precise diagnosis and treatment, stimulate further research into non-CPAP therapies, and improve the quality of care for patients with sleep apnea.