SleepApneaDisorder/[ Press Release ]/ GLEN BURNIE, Md. /Oct 11, 2011/ NovaSom, Inc., the market leader in technology-driven, payer-aligned cost-saving solutions for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) management, today announced it has entered a preferred relationship to aid HealthAmerica with managing its sleep disorder diagnostic expenses. Under the agreement, HealthAmerica will direct physicians and patients to the NovaSom(R) Home Sleep Test (HST) instead of in-facility testing for diagnosing OSA, when clinically appropriate. In addition to managing costs, patients overwhelmingly prefer the privacy, convenience and cost savings associated with home testing.“HealthAmerica is driving the adoption of home sleep tests as the preferred solution for addressing the OSA epidemic,” said John Wallendjack, MD, Medical Director, HealthAmerica. “NovaSom has invested in clinical content, work flow process and technology solutions to enable us to rationalize OSA diagnosis and redirect testing to the home, when clinically appropriate.” 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 ]/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

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

Sleep apnea is a condition that can strike in age groupand in either gender. Although the most common group are older men, children and infants are also at risk. Asthma and sleep apnea are strange bedfellows. Several studies have linked the two issues and theorize that there is a group of people with asthma and sleep apnea who are unaware of the second diagnosis.

Sleep apnea is the description of the condition where the sufferer experiences a temporary, often repeated, pause of breathing during sleep. If a person with sleep apnea has a family member that can observe them they will often witness snoring, hyper-extended head position in children, pauses in breathing and startle responses during sleep.

Other symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, obesity, lack of concentration, morning headaches, excessive sleepiness during the day, frequent visits to the bathroom at night, severe mood swings, low sex drive and a general lack of energy. Read the rest of this entry

Are you unable to fall asleep? Do you wake up often throughout the night? Do you feel well-rested when you awake in the morning? Do you want to improve your quality and quantity of your sleep? Symptoms of forgetfulness, headaches, lack of focus, itching, moodiness, cravings, headaches, and neck and backaches often disappear with a good night’s sleep.

Restful sleep is a must for health, vitality, longevity and fat loss. Researchers found that sleeping four hours a night interferes with your ability to secrete and regulate hormones, which in turn promote aging, increase appetite, add inches to your waistline and increases your risk of developing diabetes. Lack of sleep promotes an environment prime for inflammation and catabolism (muscle loss).

One loses ”one IQ point” for every hour of lost sleep one didn’t get the night before. Cognitive and mood problems develop, along with an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease are just a few consequences of too little sleep. 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

Home sleep testing is becoming increasingly popular as a method of diagnosing sleep apnea.

The home sleep test is a technological breakthrough in sleep apnea testing. It allows patients to get tested for sleep apnea in the comfort of their own home instead of paying a visit to a costly sleep lab.

One of the main advantages of home sleep testing is convenience. An overnight stay at a sleep lab can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. It can also and can influence a person’s sleep behavior. That means that the home sleep test can actually be a better representation of a person’s normal, natural sleep habits, leading to more accurate diagnosis. Read the rest of this entry

Reportlinker.com announced the release of a 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. Read the rest of this entry

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common yet underdiagnosed condition. The aim of our study is to test whether prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in extremely obese (BMI [greater than or equal to] 40 kg/m2) subjects.

One hundred and thirty seven consecutive extremely obese patients (99 females) from a controlled clinical trial [MOBIL-study (Morbid Obesity treatment, Bariatric surgery versus Intensive Lifestyle intervention Study) (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00273104)] underwent somnography with Embletta(R) and a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Read the rest of this entry

With its 2011 Sleep Apnea & Multi-Modal Transportation Conference (SAMTC) on November 8 – 9, 2011, the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) continues its efforts to address a major cause of fatigue in US transportation.  Co-sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), this second in a series of health and safety conferences focuses on the role of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) management within the major modes of transportation, including air, rail, ground and maritime. Read the rest of this entry

Harry Cutler, a sleep apnea patient, was under-employed and had no insurance when his obstructive sleep apnea became acute. “I was falling asleep at the wheel in the middle of the day” said Cutler. “I would wake up when my car bounced off of the opposite curb. After the fourth of fifth time, I decided that I needed to do something before I hurt myself, or someone else.”

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft palate at the back of the oral cavity relaxes during sleep, drapes down, closes against the rear of the tongue and causes a blockage of the airway. The patient often kicks and struggles for a breath and the wakes up gasping for air, only to fall back to sleep again and have the cycle continue. The draping of the soft palate into the airway also causes snoring as it vibrates when air rushes past it. It is estimated that 12%-25% of the population suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and the vast majority are untreated. This condition can lead to a host of health problems including hypertension, heart attack, stroke, depression, diabetes, and impotency, among others. Read the rest of this entry

Sleep Group Solutions (SGS) a leader in dental continuing education takes  pride in offering dentists top level courses on dental sleep medicine.  With an increase in sleep apnea research and  studies, Sleep Group Solutions plans to double courses offered to dentists  interested in screening and treating sleep apnea in 2012.

Recent  studies from the Journal of the American Medical Association prove sleep apnea  linking to dementia in women.  Breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea are  getting more attention and research in the medical field, and now the dental  field has perked an interest.  Dentists are filling class rooms across the  US to gain dental  continuing education on how to screen and treat sleep apnea in house,  through oral appliance therapy.   Sleep Group Solutions continues to  provide dentists with the education needed to treat OSA.  ” In 2011 we  offered the dental community 50 courses to choose from.  With such an  increased demand from the dental community, we are planning to offer around 70  for 2012,”  John Nadeau, VP Sleep Group Solutions. 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

SleepApneaDisorder/ [Press release ]/ DETROIT /– Detroit Medical Center has been selected as the first Detroit area hospital to participate in a pivotal clinical study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a new therapy for patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The STAR trial (Stimulation Therapy for Apnea Reduction) will be conducted at leading medical centers across the United States and Europe, and will evaluate the efficacy of Inspire™ Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) therapy, an implantable therapy that works with the body’s natural physiology to prevent airway obstruction during sleep. More than 18 million Americans suffer from OSA, which is characterized by repeated episodes of upper airway collapse during sleep. Patients with OSA stop breathing frequently during sleep, often for a minute or longer. Daytime sleepiness, depression, weight gain, increase in industrial accidents and diminished quality of life are all commonly observed in people who suffer from OSA as a result of fragmented sleep patterns.  Furthermore, OSA is associated with the development of systemic hypertension, cardiovascular diseases (heart failure, heart rhythm disorders), stroke, and diabetes. Read the rest of this entry