An early-stage company in Vancouver has developed an innovative new sleep mask that can help users get improved rest, adjust to new time zones and even assist with meditation.
The Bia Smart Sleep Mask developed by Bia Neuroscience is currently in the pre-order stage with the first products being shipped in Q4 this year. It utilizes neurofeedback technology, which measures brain activity through the use of infrared light.
Co-Founder and CEO Michael Byrne told Mugglehead on Wednesday that the Bia mask was different from other sleep masks because of its capability to measure brain activity and improve a user’s sleep cycle.
“We’re able to accurately measure sleep from a user’s brain and then based on those measurements we instantaneously feedback audio to guide their brain through the sleep stages allowing them to fall asleep faster and boost deep sleep while providing measurement data as well. Very, very few products out there do both,” said Byrne.
It is equipped with an inertial measurement unit (IMU), several different sensors, a microphone and a mobile application to go along with it.
The mask plays what the company calls “spheric sound,” which is said to calm the vagus nerve in the brain responsible for a person’s heart rate, breathing rate, mood and blood pressure. Bia Neuroscience says it relieves stress and has been shown to improve deep sleep by 100 per cent.
“It creates this surround sound experience and it circles around you. It’s hard to describe, but it’s an absolutely amazing feeling, incredibly soothing,” said Byrne.
Bia Sleep Mask design. Image via Bia Neuroscience
Read more: Hapbee Technologies sleep tech receives award for preventing suicide in military community
Read more: Canada makes $1.1M research investment to promote better sleep
The mask completely blocks out any external light and has a sunrise simulation feature to help users wake up in a gradual fashion. The company spent a significant amount of time selecting suitable materials for its construction to make it as comfortable as possible and it is specifically designed for people sleeping on their side.
Currently, Bia has a small private investor base and has been primarily self-funding development of the product. The company is actively seeking additional private investors and is solely focused on developing and marketing the mask.
Byrne says the company has in-house biomedical engineers assisting with its development as well. The product costs US$379.
“The Bia Sleep Mask is unlike any other wearable on the market. Bia Neuroscience has really cracked the code for sleep wearables,” said Geoff Eade, a sleep expert from Mississippi.
Other smart sleep masks include Dreamlight’s lineup of masks, the LumosTech sleep mask and the eye-tracking SomaSleep mask unveiled by Washington’s Somalytics in January which will be available for purchase in December.
Hapbee Technologies, Inc. (TSX-V: HAPB) (OTCQB: HAPBF) is another Vancouver-based company developing innovative sleep technology. Hapbee recently received an award for its sleep aid technology being an effective tool for the prevention of suicide in the United States military community.
Hapbee shares rose by 5.56 per cent Thursday to $0.095 on the TSX Venture Exchange.
rowan@mugglehead.com
