A sound night of sleep is only a dream for at least 15 million Americans and 350 million people worldwide who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This most common form of sleep apnea is caused by tissues in the throat obstructing the airway during sleep. It leads to frequent awakenings and potentially also to severe cardiopulmonary complications as the heart and lungs are deprived of adequate oxygen.
The Israeli company Discover Medical is introducing a product to make the most effective treatment option more tolerable.
The problem they’re addressing is discomfort and irritation caused by the mask that gets strapped over the nose and mouth to deliver continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) from a special machine. In 2011, CPAP interface sales totaled about $1.4 billion. However, more than half of diagnosed sleep apnea patients would rather live with the condition – which is costly to their health and to the healthcare system.
Discover’s SomnuSeal, a unique mask for CPAP machines, is a small, self-adjusting device that fits between lips and teeth like a boxer’s mouth guard. It does not touch the nose, lips or tongue and requires no straps.
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