St. Luke’s Sleep Medicine and Research Center is now enrolling participants in a clinical study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Apnex Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HGNS) System, an implantable device, to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

“Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which involves a pressurized mask over the nose, is considered the ‘gold standard’ for the treatment of sleep apnea, but many people have difficulty tolerating it,” said Paula Schweitzer, PhD, St. Luke’s Sleep Medicine and Research Center director of research. “This implantable device offers a new approach for those who have not had success with CPAP or other sleep apnea treatments.”

People interested in learning if they qualify for the Apnex Clinical Study may call 888-975-3370 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            888-975-3370     end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit stlukes-stl.com/sleep. Qualified participants will receive the medical device and care free of charge.

Patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition in which the airway collapses and blocks breathing for 10 seconds or more, may consider adjustable oral appliances (OAs), devices that fit within the mouth to prevent upper airway collapse, as an effective first-line treatment, according to two studies conducted by sleep medicine specialists from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, Md. 

The retrospective, peer-reviewed studies, published in the December 2011 issue of CHEST, the official journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, and in the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (JCSM), the official journal of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, provide findings on OAs from the largest patient populations studied to date. The studies found that adjustable OAs are nearly as effective as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for patients with a mild form of OSA and are more effective than fixed oral appliances, particularly in patients with moderate to severe OSA. Read the rest of this entry

If you’re suffering from sleep apnea and if you are also a habitual snorer a robotic polar bear pillow might be something worth checking out. It has been named as “Jukusui-kun”, and was developed by Wasaeda University’s Kabe Lab in Japan.

The major objective of developing this robotic polar bear pillow is to help those who suffer from sleep apnea and heavy snoring by gently tickling the user’s face.

By tickling the user’s face, this would cause the user to roll onto their side while remaining in a state of deep sleep, or so it has been reported. Rolling onto your side while sleeping has been said to help reduce snoring, so while some of us find it hard to actively sleep on our sides during a deep state of sleep, this is where Jukusui-kun comes in. Read the rest of this entry

The safety and effectiveness of sleep apnea equipment will be examined,evaluated, and determined with the help of a research study conducted by Winston-Salem Company.

Winston-Salem announced that  it has received approval to begin a clinical study to evaluate the  safety and effectiveness of the Apnex hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HGNS) System. The device is used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

PMG will be one of the first medical centers in the country to participate in this study. “Many people who suffer from OSA are unable to tolerate existing therapies such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The HGNS System provides a new approach to the treatment of OSA. This study will help us  further understand what role this device could have in treating the millions of people who suffer from OSA,” said the study’s co-principal investigator. Read the rest of this entry

A newly concluded research study findings published online in the European Respiratory Journal, evaluated the impact a Mediterranean diet can have on obese people with sleep apnea, compared to those on a prudent diet.The study revealed that Mediterranean diet combined with physical activity can help to improve some of the symptoms of sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) causes frequent pauses of breathing to occur during sleep, which disrupts a person’s normal sleeping pattern. It is one of the most prevalent sleep-related breathing disorders with approximately 2-4% of the adult population experiencing the condition. This percentage increases up to 20-40% with obesity, and weight loss is often an essential part of the recommended treatment plan.

The researchers, from the University of Crete in Greece, examined 40 obese patients suffering from OSAS. Twenty patients were given a prudent diet to follow, while the other 20 followed a Mediterranean diet. Both groups were also encouraged to increase their physical activity, mainly involving walking for at least 30 minutes each day.

In both groups, the patients also received continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy which involves wearing a mask that generates an air stream, keeping the upper airway open during sleep. Read the rest of this entry

Apnex Medical, Inc., has received CE Mark approval for its Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HGNS®) System for use by people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The system was approved for sale in Europe based on the positive results of two clinical studies conducted in the United States and Australia. In those studies, the majority of patients demonstrated a significant reduction in their obstructive sleep apnea as well as substantial improvements in the quality of their sleep, quality of life, and overall health.

“CE Mark approval is an important confirmation of the substantial benefits that patients receive from our HGNS therapy for obstructive sleep apnea and is a key milestone for our company,” said Chas McKhann, Apnex Medical President and CEO. Read the rest of this entry

Harry Cutler, a sleep apnea patient, has been awarded patent protection in the United Kingdom. The patent protects a medical device created initially to treat Mr. Cutler’s own obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which afflicts from 12% to 25% of the population. The device also reduces or eliminates snoring, one of the primary side effects of OSA. Unlike other oral appliances, it can be used by people with loose teeth, dentures, or no teeth at all, thereby eliminating costly dental preparation. It is being marketed as the “RespireAide Sleep Apnea Solution”.

In this case, necessity was indeed the mother of invention. Underemployed at the time and without insurance, Cutler’s sleep apnea became severe. “I was falling asleep while driving to work, in the middle of the day! I had to do something,” said Cutler.

He researched the condition and began to fashion a solution mostly from items found around the house or purchased from the local hardware and sporting goods stores. “The initial device was somewhat crude, but it did help. Over the following six years, using myself as a test subject, I refined and improved the device with the goal of creating an acceptable combination of comfort and effectiveness. The resultant device bears little resemblance to the original,” he added. Read the rest of this entry

Ventus Medical  revealed the results of a large, long-term study of its proprietary Provent® Sleep Apnea Therapy, an innovative, non-invasive treatment for  obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), were published in the November 2011 issue of the  Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, an official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Snoring is among the common sleep problems in adults, especially in middle-aged men. And children and kids are equally prone to this most uncomfortable sleep disorder.The effects of snoring upon the overall health of children is established to be detrimental up to great extent.

Association of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA among kids and children has now become a more common occurrence. Across the globe occurrence of persistent snoring on most nights has been reported in 8-12 percent of children.

The incidence of OSA (with significant upper airway obstruction leading to   oxygen desaturation and/or sleep fragmentation) is 2-3 percent in children under the age of 10. Read the rest of this entry

GLOBAL Doctor’s Specialist Centre in Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, now offers its first Sleep Apnea Clinic offering sleep diagnostic testing with the Philips Alice 5 Diagnostic Sleep System, a fully-integrated sleep laboratory system. The launch of the clinic highlights Philips and Global Doctors’ commitment to improving the awareness of common sleep disorders, such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in Malaysia.Nearly 7% of the adult population or 1.9 million people in Malaysia are affected by Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).According to the findings of attitudinal study of Malaysians’ perceptions of their health and well-being, the Philips Index, suggested that 17% of Malaysians do not get enough sleep. The study results also revealed that their perceived lack of sleep negatively impacted on how they felt about their physihecal and mental health. Read the rest of this entry

Sleep apnea generally causes obstructive breathing in the middle of the night for more than 12 million Americans. Fatigue, high blood pressure and weight gain are just a few of its symptoms.

Several researches concluded during recent past have established that sleep apnea can be a drain on intimacy, causing erectile dysfunction in men and loss of libido in women.

Scientists suspect this may have to do with sex hormones like testosterone, which rise with sleep and fall when there is a lack of it. Because it causes intermittent waking and chronic sleep deprivation, apnea may directly drive down levels of these hormones, causing sexual dysfunction. Read the rest of this entry

The University Hospitals Case Medical Center is conducting  research study and clinical trials  for evaluating effectiveness of a new implantable device to treat sleep apnea.

The study is aimed to evaluate an electronic device designed to deliver mild stimulation to the main nerve of the tongue — the hypoglossal nerve — on each breathing cycle during sleep.

This stimulation is intended to restore tone to the muscles that control the base of the tongue, which prevent the tongue from collapsing and obstructing the airway during sleep.

Sleep apnea obstruction may not be the only cause for loud snoring but it does affects sleep that is not refreshing. At the same time sleep apnea equally causes daytime sleepiness and a reduced quality of life. Other disorders associated with sleep apnea include development of high blood pressure, as well as cardiovascular diseases, stroke and diabetes. Read the rest of this entry

SleepApneaDisorder/[ Press Release ]/HOUSTON/Cyberonics, Inc.  a global leader in medical devices for the treatment and management of epilepsy, today announced an initial investment of $4 million in ImThera Medical, Inc. (“ImThera“). Based in San Diego, California, ImThera is an early-stage company developing a novel, implantable neurostimulation device for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (“OSA”).

The investment in ImThera can total $12 million subject to the achievement of certain regulatory and clinical milestones. Cyberonics is a minority shareholder with certain rights, including representation on ImThera’s board of directors. In addition, ImThera will raise up to $4 million from its private investors, for a total Series C placement of up to $16 million.

OSA is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition associated with significant long-term health problems and accompanying costs. ImThera’s Targeted Hypoglossal Neurostimulation (THN) Sleep Therapy combines a multi-contact electrode specifically designed to control certain muscles of the tongue with an implantable pulse generator and an external programmer. The company is currently pursuing CE Mark regulatory approval in the European Union and expects to initiate a pivotal clinical trial in the U.S. in the near future. Read the rest of this entry

Dr. Brock Rondeau of Dr. Rondeau and Associates, a general dentist with a focus on orthodontics in London, is offering patients ways to sleep better at night time with sleep apnea treatments. Sleep apnea is a type of breathing disorder which is a serious, and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep.

“People who snore loudly are often the target of bad jokes and middle of the night elbow thrusts, but snoring is no laughing matter. While loud, disruptive snoring may strain relationships, it may signal a potentially life threatening disorder: obstructive sleep apnea. I am pleased to offer my patients a safe alternative for treating sleep apnea and allowing them to rest easy at night,” said Dr. Brock Rondeau, general dentist with a focus on London orthodontics.

The signs and symptoms of OSA include snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, gasping or choking during the night, non-refreshed sleep, fragmented sleep, clouded memory, irritability, personality changes and morning headaches. Read the rest of this entry

Advocate Condell Medical Center, along with the Alert, Well, And Keeping Energetic support group (A.W.A.K.E.), is hosting a CPAP vendor fair on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the conference center at 801 South Milwaukee Ave. in Libertyville. The event is free and open to the public.

Sleep apnea patients, family members and physicians are invited to learn about new continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment, masks, and other items for clients. Vendors include; DeVilbiss, Phillips Respironics, ResMed, Candance, Fisher & Paykel along with Dr. Debbie Kline, an oral appliance specialist. Additionally, Advocate Home Health Care will offer free CPAP equipment pressure checks.  Read the rest of this entry