L2M Launch / Qc Fall 2025 / Flexible Intra-Oral Device for Continuous Salivary Biomarkers Monitoring to Diagnose Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders like insomnia and circadian rhythm disruptions affect millions, leading to health problems such as fatigue, difficulty to concentrate, depression, various ailments including heart disease and cancer. Diagnosing these issues is challenging because current methods, such as overnight lab tests, are expensive, uncomfortable, and often unable to accurately perform real-time measurements. Wearable devices help, but mostly track movement or heart rate, missing key hormonal clues, such as melatonin levels, which are critical for pinpointing sleep disorders. There is a clinical need for a better way to monitor the individual fluctuations of hormones or biomarkers at home, without invasive lab tests. Our solution is a smart intra-oral device with a built-in biosensor that tracks melatonin levels in saliva in real-time. Because it can be wireless, will allow patients to sleep normally in the comfort of their home while collecting data. Clinicians can use this information to accurately diagnose sleep disorders and personalize treatments, like adjusting the timing of their administration and of their amount (i.e. of melatonin supplements or light therapy timing). This could reduce misdiagnoses, increase efficiency of care, and improve outcomes. We have developed a lab bench-top prototype and are currently testing its various components, which will be further miniaturized to be integrated into the device. The Lab2Market program will help us understand market needs, refine our business model towards bringing this product to the people who need it most, whether through clinics, wellness centres, or direct sales.

Faculty Supervisor:

Silvana Papagerakis

Student:

Partner:

V1 Studio

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Technology; Biotechnology

University:

Université Laval

Program: