Sami Myllymaa

Adjunct Professor, Ph.D.

Personal Statement

Adjunct professor Sami Myllymaa received his Ph.D. degree in 2010 and the title of docent in the field of Medical Physics, especially biomaterials and bioelectrode technology in 2014 from the University of Eastern Finland. He is currently acting as a Senior Inspector at the Medical Devices Unit of the Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea. In addition, he is conducting scientific research and supervising university students in the Sleep Technology and Analytics Research (STAR) group.

His current research is focused on development of novel wearable sensors and machine learning solutions for personalized diagnostics and prognostics of sleep disorders (obstructive sleep apnea, sleep bruxism). In addition to scientific publications, his work has led to commercialization of the scientific innovations. He involved to the development of an EEG electrode set for emergency medicine. This BrainStatus EEG-electrode set (Bittium Corp.) is patented, CE-approved and currently marketed globally (https://www.bittium.com/products_services/medical/bittium_brainstatus).

The research is highly innovative and primarily seeks solutions for important diagnostic shortcomings in clinical medicine. For example, our new facial electrode set (BruxHome) represents a new frontier for diagnostics of sleep disorders by enabling fully self-administrated sleep study at home for the first time. Innovative, minimally sleep –disturbed wearable sensors and use of state-of-the-art artificial intelligence -based methods provide a unique possibility to revolutionize the current diagnostics and management of sleep disorders.

Personal Information

Co-head of the Sleep Technology and Analytics Research Group (STAR)

  • Phone: +358405572499
  • Room: Working remotely
  • Email: sami.myllymaa[at]uef.fi
  • Year of birth: 1975
  • Supervised 5 Ph.D. theses (9 on-going), 65 scientific papers, 2 book chapters, 1 patent family (WO2014072582A1), H-index 15 (Scopus) – 19 (Google Scholar)
  • Current research interests: Novel wearable sensors and machine learning solutions for personalized diagnostics of sleep disorders (e.g. obstructive sleep apnoea, sleep bruxism), salivary metabolomics, and electrochemical biosensors for point-of-care diagnostics
  • Current and previous positions:
    • Senior Inspector, Medical Device Unit, Finnish Medicines Agency (Kuopio, Finland), 17.5.2021–
    • Researcher (part-time), Kuopio University Hospital (Kuopio, Finland), 2013–
    • Adjunct Professor (docent), Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio, Finland), 1.9.2014–
    • Senior Researcher, Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio, Finland), 1.5.2014– (leave of absence until 31.12.2021)
    • Co-head of the Sleep Technology and Analytics Research Group, Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio, Finland), 1.1.2018–
    • Postdoc Researcher/Project Manager, University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio, Finland), 2011–2014
  • Education:
    • Docent (Biomedical Engineering), University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio, Finland), 2014
    • Ph.D. (Biomedical Engineering), University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio, Finland), 2010
    • M.Sc. (Tech) (Biomedical Engineering), Tampere University of Technology (Tampere, Finland), 2001
    • Graduate of Finnish Upper Secondary School, Uotilanrinteen lukio (Rauma, Finland), 1994
  • Skills: Biosignal measurement and analysis techniques, polysomnography, electrochemical analysis methods, material characterization techniques, micro- and nanofabrication techniques, medical device regulation
  • Language proficiency:
    • Finnish, native language
    • English, fluent
    • Swedish, fair
  • Hobbies: X-country skiing, running, reading