Sleep apnea, a disorder characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep, is a growing problem that affects millions of people worldwide. Conventional treatment options such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are effective but are often uncomfortable, bulky, and tethered to a power source.
However, the Airing Micro CPAP, promoted as a revolutionary device that promised to be the world’s first cordless, maskless, and hoseless micro-CPAP, aimed to change that.
Let’s delve into the history of the Airing’s Micro CPAP, its crowdfunding campaign, its eventual closure, the FDA-approved micro-sized device that came out after Airing, and the proliferation of ‘imposter’ or ‘scam’ Airing devices found on Amazon and elsewhere.
Airing LLC History
Stephen Marsh, a mechanical engineer, founded Airing LLC in 2014 with the goal of developing a revolutionary solution to treat sleep apnea. The company aimed to create a comfortable, silent, and effective CPAP device that would be easy to use and would not require a mask, hose, or power cords. Marsh spent several years researching and developing prototypes before launching a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo in 2015.
Micro CPAP Crowdfunding Campaign
Airing’s Micro CPAP crowdfunding campaign quickly gained attention and raised over $1.5 million from over 12,000 backers worldwide. The campaign was a massive success and generated a lot of buzz in the media. The device promised to be a game-changer in the field of sleep apnea treatment, and people eagerly awaited its release.
However, the campaign was not without controversy. Some backers criticized the company for failing to deliver on its promises, and others questioned the validity of the technology. Additionally, the company faced regulatory hurdles, and some questioned whether the device would receive FDA approval.
Bankruptcy and Closing Down the Company
Unfortunately, Airing LLC ultimately failed to bring the Airing Micro CPAP to market. The company faced a range of issues, including technical difficulties, regulatory hurdles, and financial problems. Not the least among their ‘regulatory hurdles’ was the fact that the device was never proven to be effective in treating sleep apnea — a company can’t get approval to market a product until they prove that it does what it’s supposed to do.
In 2018, the company filed for bankruptcy, and the Airing Micro CPAP became one of the most high-profile crowdfunding failures in history.
After Airing’s Demise, Micro-sized Sleep Apnea Therapy Becomes a Reality With an FDA-Approved ‘EPAP’ Device Called Bongo Rx
Despite the company’s closure, the Airing Micro CPAP remains an intriguing concept and represents the growing interest in innovative solutions to sleep apnea. While the Airing Micro CPAP may have failed, the concept continues to inspire entrepreneurs and researchers to develop new and better ways to treat sleep apnea.
One such product is Bongo Rx, a tiny device that, like the Airing, fits just into the nostrils. But Bongo Rx does not require any electronics or ‘nano technology’ to work. This is because Bongo Rx is based on a concept called ‘exhalation positive airway pressure’ or EPAP for short. Click the link below to learn more about Bongo Rx.
Learn About The New Micro-Sized and Effective CPAP Alternative That Does Not Require a Machine, Mask or Hose – Bongo Rx EPAP Therapy
Bongo Rx is an FDA-cleared prescription device for the treatment of moderate or mild sleep apnea
Conveniently available to you whenever and wherever you want to sleep
Clinically tested
Easy to use, small and discreet
Requires no machine, hoses, electricity, or batteries
Designed, molded, and assembled in the USA
Affordable
Enter Airing Micro CPAP Imposters and Frauds on Amazon and Elsewhere
In the last few years there has been a proliferation of Airing knock offs or imposters. A quick Google search shows “Airing Micro CPAP” devices everywhere, including Amazon. These are NOT CPAP devices, and are not approved by the FDA for the treatment of sleep apnea.
Except for putting “CPAP” in their name, these devices do not claim to treat sleep apnea. Instead, they focus on snoring. While snoring and sleep apnea are related, reducing snoring is not the same as treating sleep apnea.
These devices are simply a cheap fan in a plastic casing with an on-off switch. They do not generate enough pressure to keep your airway open and reduce or eliminate apnea events. Do not be taken in by this Airing micro CPAP scam. Sleep apnea is a serious condition and it must be treated with an effective therapy.
Conclusion
The Airing Micro CPAP was a highly anticipated device that promised to revolutionize the treatment of sleep apnea. While the company faced many challenges and ultimately failed to bring the product to market, Airing’s Micro CPAP represented a significant advancement in sleep apnea treatment technology. The failure of Airing LLC highlights the challenges of developing and bringing new medical devices to market, but it also underscores the need for continued innovation and investment in this field.
People with mild to moderate sleep apnea who are looking for an alternative to CPAP should try Bongo Rx, a non-invasive, low-cost solution.
Can you cure sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts while a person is sleeping. It affects millions of people worldwide and can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. But can you cure sleep apnea? Let’s talk about this.
First, it’s important to understand that sleep apnea is a chronic condition, meaning it cannot be cured completely. However, the severity of sleep apnea can can sometimes be reduced through lifestyle and behavioral changes.
Lifestyle and Behavior Changes to Improve Sleep Apnea
Here are some ‘natural remedies’ that can help manage sleep apnea symptoms:
Lose Weight: Excess weight is a common risk factor for sleep apnea, so losing weight can help improve symptoms.
Avoid Alcohol and Sedatives: Alcohol and sedatives can relax the muscles in your throat, making it more difficult to breathe during sleep.
Change Sleeping Position: Sleeping on your back can make sleep apnea worse. Try sleeping on your side or with your head in an elevated position to help keep your airway open.
Exercise Regularly: Regular exercise can help strengthen the muscles in your throat, making it less likely that they will collapse during sleep.
Use a Humidifier: Dry air can irritate the tissues in your throat, making it more difficult to breathe. Using a humidifier can help keep the air moist and reduce symptoms.
Medical Treatments for OSA
If lifestyle changes and natural remedies don’t improve your sleep apnea symptoms, your doctor may recommend medical treatments.
Here are some medical options for treating sleep apnea:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy: CPAP therapy involves wearing a mask over your nose and/or mouth while you sleep. The mask is connected to a machine that delivers a continuous stream of air pressure to keep your airway open.
Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT): A non-invasive treatment for sleep apnea that involves wearing a custom-fitted dental appliance to keep the airway open during sleep.
Surgery: Surgery may be an option if other treatments haven’t worked. Surgical options for sleep apnea include uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which removes excess tissue from the throat, and maxillomandibular advancement (MMA), which repositions the jaw to keep the airway open.
Surgical Implant: The Inspire sleep apnea device is a surgically implanted device that delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles during sleep to keep the airway open.
While sleep apnea cannot be cured completely, it can be managed effectively with the right treatment plan. Lifestyle changes and natural remedies can help improve symptoms in many cases, but medical treatments like CPAP therapy and surgery may be necessary for more severe cases.
If you think you may have sleep apnea, it’s important to speak with your doctor. They can help you determine the best course of treatment to manage your symptoms and improve your overall health and quality of life.
The Inspire obstructive sleep apnea device is a relatively new treatment option that has received a lot of attention in recent years due to its unique approach to treating the condition. This therapy uses a small device that is surgically implanted in the patient’s body and works by stimulating the nerve that controls the tongue to prevent the airway from collapsing during sleep.
In this blog post, we’ll cover the advantages & disadvantages, indications & contraindications, ideal candidates, and the treatment pathway of the Inspire upper airway stimulation (UAS) device, as well as some information from a clinical study regarding its efficacy.
Inspire is an Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) device that is surgically implanted to stimulate the hypoglossal nerve during sleep. The stimulation is controlled by an external, handheld remote that the patient uses nightly to turn on the Inspire device before sleep. Inspire is classified by the FDA as a Class III device, which includes devices with the greatest risk.
Advantages of Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment
No CPAP Machine, No Hose, and No Mask: Unlike continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), Inspire sleep apnea treatment doesn’t require the patient to wear a mask or have a flow generator CPAP machine delivering air to their body.
Simple to Use: Once the device is implanted, the patient simply uses a handheld remote to turn on and off the Inspire before and after sleep.
Customizable: Inspire sleep apnea therapy is customizable, allowing the patient (or doctor) to adjust the level of stimulation they receive based on their needs.
Effective: Clinical studies have shown that the Inspire sleep apnea device is effective for moderate to severe sleep apnea patients, with patients reporting improvements in their sleep apnea symptoms and quality of life after undergoing the therapy. In a clinical study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, for example, the study patients reported a 68% reduction in their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) after undergoing the surgery and using the therapy for 12 months.
Disadvantages of Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment
Cost: Inspire sleep apnea treatment is a relatively new treatment option, and as such, it can be quite costly. This can be a barrier for many patients who are unable to afford the treatment. Some insurance companies may offer coverage for Inspire for those who meet specific criteria, but patients typically can expect to pay any unmet deductible along with any copay or coinsurance fee for the surgery.
Complex procedure: Inspire sleep apnea treatment is a complex procedure that requires surgery and implantation of the device by a trained specialist. This can be a disadvantage for patients who are not comfortable with undergoing a surgical procedure.
Risk of complications: As with any invasive device or surgical procedure, there is a risk of complications associated with implanting and using Inspire sleep apnea therapy. This can include infection, nerve damage, or pain. To remove the implanted device or to replace its batteries, additional surgery is needed.
The procedure may also leave small scars. According to the company, “the visibility of the scars associated with the surgery to implant the Inspire will depend on your skin tone and individual healing process. There are two or three incisions made to place the device. Each patient will have one incision under the chin and one below the collarbone. Some patients will also have one on the side of the rib cage.”
Some patients are not candidates for the procedure.
It can be a lengthy process to qualify for and get the surgery.
Indications for the Inspire Sleep Apnea Device
Inspire is indicated for use to treat a subset of patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that meet all of the following requirements:
Have moderate to severe sleep apnea that is limited to between 15 and 65 AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea index).
Do not have central and mixed apneas that make up 25% or more of their Apnea-Hypopnea index (AHI )
Have been confirmed to fail, or cannot tolerate, Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) treatments, such as CPAP or EPAP.
Do not have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 32.
Do not have a complete concentric collapse at the soft palate level as determined by an internal airway examination procedure.
Contraindications for Inspire Sleep Apnea Device
Pregnancy: Inspire sleep apnea treatment is contraindicated for patients who are or who plan to become pregnant as the safety of the therapy during pregnancy has not been established.
Implanted devices: Patients with certain implanted devices, such as pacemakers or defibrillators, may not be eligible for Inspire sleep apnea therapy due to potential interactions with the device.
MRI: Patients who require an MRI other than what is described in the Inspire labeling.
Anatomic issues: Any anatomical finding that would compromise the performance of upper airway stimulation.
Ideal Candidate for Inspire Sleep Apnea Therapy
The ideal candidate for Inspire sleep apnea therapy is a patient diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea (limited to 15 to 65 AHI) who has been confirmed to have failed or not tolerated other PAP treatments, such as CPAP or EPAP. This patient should be in overall good health and have no contraindications for the therapy, such as pregnancy, implanted devices, or anatomical issues. They should also be willing to undergo the surgical procedure required for implantation of the device.
It is important to note that every patient is unique, and the best way to determine if Inspire sleep apnea therapy is right for you is to consult with a sleep specialist and undergo a thorough evaluation of your sleep apnea symptoms and medical history.
The general steps for getting started with Inspire are:
An initial meeting with a specialized doctor is required to see if a patient is a potential candidate for Inspire.
To further determine if the Inspire is right for you, you must have a first procedure where you are put to sleep so a doctor can insert a camera into your airway to review whether or not you have a complete concentric collapse at the soft palate level.
In a different procedure, the Inspire device is surgically implanted under general anesthesia into the chest area, as well as in the neck area under the skin.
Under the direction of their doctor, patients can typically resume non-strenuous activities in a few days and more strenuous activity in a couple of weeks.
Finally, about thirty days after the surgery, the patient meets again with their doctor to turn on their Inspire and fine tune its stimulation impulses.
How much does the Inspire sleep apnea implant cost?
The device is covered by most insurance providers. The exact out-of-pocket cost will depend on the individual’s insurance plan. Also, the Inspire implantation procedure is mostly performed as an outpatient surgery, so there are medical bills that will have to be taken into account.
According to a cnet.com article on Inspire, an individual can expect to see a total bill of around $30,000 to $40,000 for the surgery plus the cost of the Inspire sleep apnea device, before insurance.
Before Considering Surgery, Learn About The Non-invasive CPAP Alternative – Bongo Rx EPAP Therapy
Bongo Rx is an FDA-cleared prescription device for the treatment of moderate or mild sleep apnea
Non-surgical / Non-invasive
Conveniently available to you whenever and wherever you want to sleep
Clinically tested
Easy to use, small and discreet
Requires no machine, hoses, electricity, or batteries
Designed, molded, and assembled in the USA
Affordable
In conclusion, the Inspire sleep apnea device is a promising new treatment option for a narrow qualifying group of patients with sleep apnea. While it has many advantages, including its customizable stimulation, and effectiveness, it also has some disadvantages, including its cost, complex procedure, and risk of complications. Inspire is also only appropriate for a small sub-set of sleep apnea patients.
Patients should carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of this therapy and consult with their healthcare provider to determine if it is the right choice for them.
Patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea may also want to try Bongo Rx, a non-invasive, low-cost solution.
(Inspire is a registered trademark of Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.)
