Lee A. Surkin, MD is the first medical practice in the state of North Carolina to offer Provent Sleep Apnea Therapy, an innovative, non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to patients in Greenville and throughout North Carolina. Cleared by the US FDA in 2008, Provent Therapy is a simple and effective new treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea. Provent Therapy utilizes the patient’s own breathing to provide clinically proven results in the treatment of OSA.

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is currently the gold standard for treatment of OSA and is extremely effective at treating OSA when worn as directed. However, up to half of all patients are not compliant with CPAP therapy due to the cumbersome nature of the treatment. Provent Therapy was developed to help patients who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy and may benefit from the small non-invasive and effective technology Provent Therapy provides. Read the rest of this entry

Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

United States Anesthesia and Respiratory Devices Market Outlook to 2017 – Respiratory Devices, Respiratory Measurement Devices, Airway and Anesthesia Devices, Anesthesia Machines, Sleep Apnea Diagnostic Systems, Pain Management Devices and Others

The report provides key market data on the United States Anesthesia and Respiratory Devices market. The report provides value (USD million), volume (units) and average price (USD) data for each segment and sub-segment within eight market categories – Airway and Anesthesia Devices, Anesthesia Machines, Pain Management Devices, Regional Anesthesia Disposables, Respiratory Devices, Respiratory Disposables, Respiratory Measurement Devices and Sleep Apnea Diagnostic Systems. Read the rest of this entry

People with obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to stick to prescribed treatment when a partner or parent is involved with their treatment, according to a team of sleep researchers.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway collapses during sleep. It is the most common type of sleep-disordered breathing, and chances of it occurring become more elevated in obese people.

The first line of treatment for sleep apnea is a non-invasive in-home treatment called CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure therapy. However, if patients do not use the equipment properly, or at all, it cannot help. Read the rest of this entry

The ResMed S9 is a uniquly designed sleep apnea device and only because of this the device ResMed S9 won a Red Dot design award last year.

Michael Farrell, senior vice president at ResMed’s global sleep strategic business unit, said: “Great design in medical devices should combine good looks, innovation and user-friendliness, as well as address an unmet medical need.”

The device uses special quality plastics in its manufacturing. This is called the “ Cycoloy polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) resin”.Sabic Innovative Plastics is the company that manufactures the ”Lexan and Cycoloy materials” that have been used in the making of the award-winning ResMed S9 series of sleep apnea devices.

Sabic’s Cycoloy polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) resin is used to mould the complex, thin-wall S9 chassis. The high-flow material uses a non-halogenated flame retardant.

The tough Sabic Lexan polycarbonate is biocompatible and has a high-quality surface finish. It is used for the S9 top case and also in ResMed’s H5i humidifier flip lid.

The company says: “These new devices are designed with the SABIC Lexan and Cycoloy resin materials to be unobtrusive in the home – looking more like a clock radio or stereo than a piece of medical equipment.”

A new classification system detailing the type of signals measured by home sleep testing devices for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) appears in the latest issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

The proposed system categorizes home sleep testing devices, called out-of-center (OOC) testing devices in the paper, based on measurements of Sleep, Cardiovascular, Oximetry, Position, Effort, and Respiratory (SCOPER) parameters. Criteria for evaluating the devices are also presented, based on pre-test and post-test probabilities.

The first widely used classification system for describing sleep testing devices was published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in 1994. Read the rest of this entry

A study appearing in the November 2011 issue of the Journal of  Clinical Sleep Medicine finds that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)  patients treated with Provent Sleep Apnea Therapywere not only compliant  with the therapy but also showed a reduction in apnea-hypopnea index  (AHI).

“This study provides further validation that Provent Therapy is an  effective treatment for some OSA patients as it reduces daytime  sleepiness, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and snoring associated with this  prevalent condition,” said Meir Kryger, MD, of Gaylord Sleep Medicine  and past president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

“Patients  reported wearing the device almost 90% of the nights, which represents  very high compliance. The current gold standard, continuous positive  airway pressure (CPAP) is very effective but many patients do not use it  adequately. Provent represents an important new treatment option for  many obstructive sleep apnea patients.” 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.

Reportlinker.com announced its new market research report “Global Sleep Apnea Diagnostic And Therapeutic Devices Industry ”

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Sleep Apnea Diagnostic and Therapeutic Devices in US$ Million by the following Product Segments: Diagnostic Devices (Fixed PSG, Ambulatory PSG, & Others (include Screening Devices)), and Therapeutic Devices (CPAP, Bi-Level PAP, Auto PAP, & Facial Interfaces (Masks and Humidifiers)).

The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Japan, Europe, and Rest of World. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2007 through 2015. A seven-year historic analysis is also provided for these markets.

The report profiles 57 companies including many key and niche players worldwide such as Astro-Med Inc., Grass Technologies, Cadwell Laboratories, Inc., CareFusion Corporation, Compumedics Ltd., DeVilbiss Healthcare, Embla Systems, evo Medical Solutions, Inc., Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Itamar Medical Ltd., Invacare Corporation, Natus Medical Inc., Bio-Logic, Stellate Systems, Inc., Philips Healthcare, ResMed Inc., Teleflex Medical, Vital Signs Inc., and Weinmann Geräte für Medizin GmbH+CCo. KG. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research.

The American Sleep Apnea Association has recognized CPAP or Continuous Positive Air Pressure as one of the most effective and reliable therapeutic options for the management of mild to moderate sleep apnea. For restoration of normal breathing, choosing the best mask for CPAP is the most critical concern area, especially for patients who are put on this therapy for the first time.

It involves pumping in pre-measured pressurized air directly in to the lungs. One of the most important components of the equipment set is the mask, also known as the sleep apnea masks, since they carry the pressurized air into the lungs generated by the machine.

Reasons why this component should be purchased carefully

- Comfort and ease of use of the item is of paramount importance. Any discomfort can mean discontinuation of therapy.

- Air leakage can mar the efficacy of the therapy. Therefore the item should be bought only after seriously considering various aspects of usage. This is the only way the user can continue with the therapy and enjoy the benefits. Read the rest of this entry

SleepApneaDisorder/ [  Press Release  ]/ Versailles, Ohio /October 17, 2011/ Sleep Apnea: A Growing Health Concern According to the National Institute  of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, an estimated 18 million Americans have  sleep apnea. However, few of them have had the problem diagnosed.

Sleep apnea is the repeated interruption of normal breathing during sleep.  Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of breathing-related sleep disorder. In patients with OSA, the airway collapses, temporarily restricting  airflow to the lungs. This partial airway obstruction causes the upper airway  tissue to vibrate and produce the sound of the classic snore.

As OSA develops, it has a cumulative effect, meaning that the longer the  disease goes untreated, the greater the negative side effects and associated  health risks. According to numerous  research studies, if sleep apnea remains untreated, other health conditions  may emerge or current health problems may worsen, including: Read the rest of this entry

Innovative sleep apnea compliance solution integrates to leading Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) manufacturers.

Umbian Inc. is pleased to announce U-Sleep; the first commercially available, universal CPAP compliance monitoring solution. U-Sleep monitors CPAP device usage, providing critical daily feedback to CPAP users, their employers, sleep specialists and insurance carriers, based on customizable compliance standards.

CPAP devices are commonly used for the treatment of sleep apnea. The monitoring of CPAP device usage encourages regular use and subsequently improves the effectiveness of therapy. As part of an overall sleep apnea management program, U-Sleep can help companies achieve a decrease in absenteeism, accidents and liability while providing an increase in productivity and quality of life for their employees. Read the rest of this entry

SleepApneaDisorder/[Press Release]/ Philips Respironics, a unit of Royal Philips Electronics is shaping the future of sleep therapy by providing an innovative technology for treating and managing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – in its most advanced CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device to date. The new REMstar Pro with AutoIQ is a prime example of an intelligent solution that allows providers and physicians to deliver exceptional care while helping their patients take control of their sleep therapy.

The new AutoIQ mode has the ability to track a patient’s progress over several nights, establish or readjust to an ideal therapy pressure, and check back periodically to reassess and adjust treatment as needed. This is all done without requiring the provider to visit the patient’s home. Read the rest of this entry

•  The global respiratory  devices market is set to reach $7.1 billion by 2017
•  The PAP device market is the largest segment in the global respiratory devices market and accounted for 58% of the market
•  The US market for respiratory devices was valued at $2.4 billion in 2010

The global respiratory devices market is forecast to grow from $4.5 billion in 2010 to $7.1 billion by 2017, according to a new report available on companiesandmarkets.com. Read the rest of this entry

SleepApneaDisorder/[ Press Release ]/ BELMONT, Calif. and HYDERABAD, India, July 20, 2011 /- Ventus Medical is pleased to announce the Indian launch of its proprietary Provent® Sleep Apnea Therapy, an innovative, non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Orbees Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd. will be the strategic market developer of Provent Therapy in India.

“India has a very high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea. Roughly 20% of urban Indian males suffer from OSA,” said Rajiv Doshi, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Ventus Medical and inventor of the Provent technology. Dr. Doshi is faculty at Stanford University and serves as Executive Director (US) of the Stanford India Biodesign program, a Government of India funded collaboration between Stanford University and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. “With a very large patient need, we believe that Provent Therapy provides a reliable and clinically-proven solution to treat the millions of people in India with OSA.” Read the rest of this entry

Fragmented sleep, loud snoring, debilitating daytime fatigue, low oxygen levels, missed work days, morning headaches and problems remembering and concentrating are among the symptoms of sleep apnea disorder, the most common sleep disorder.

According to estimates there are more than 18 million Americans suffer from the deadly disorder called sleep apnea.

One of the first steps is generally to undergo an overnight sleep evaluation, or “nocturnal polysomnogram.” It is commonly known as overnight sleep study at the sleep center.

Patients spend one night in a special laboratory or a bedroom hooked up to sophisticated computer equipment that monitors heart, lung and brain activity; breathing patterns; arm and leg movements; and blood oxygen levels. The room generally includes soft lighting; a comfortable bed; a quiet, calming atmosphere; television; and other amenities to help the patient sleep.

In some cases, a portable home monitoring device can also be used to track heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow and breathing patterns. Unfortunately, however, it does not always provide the most effective readings. An overnight, in-center polysomnogram may still be needed.