Sleep: the thing we all dream about at work and can't seem to get enough of when the day is done. It comes easy to some of us, but for others, sleeping soundly can be a struggle night-in and night-out. One common condition that can lead to sleeplessness, and much worse if left untreated, is sleep apnea. But a local company is racking up funding for a new treatment device that delivers relief and comfort.
Airing, a startup out of Burlington, has designed a micro-CPAP device utilizing micro blower technology invented by the company's president Stephen Marsh. Right now, its Indiegogo campaign for the device has reached $415,000, well over its $100,000 goal. But the need for a new method of treatment is felt worldwide by the 18 million diagnosed with the condition that prevents proper breathing while asleep at night.
Traditional CPAP devices use a cumbersome hose and mask system, which Marsh told BostInno leads many people to forgo treatment rather than endure a completely sleepless night.
"If you're a doctor," he says, "maybe 80 percent of the people you prescribe [a CPAP] for find it intolerable."
And that's bad news because left untreated, sleep apnea prevents the brain and other vital organs from getting proper oxygen throughout the night. Coronary disease, heart attacks, and strokes have been proven more likely in people with untreated sleep apnea.
The Airing micro-CPAP is a small, sleek, space-ship-looking device that fits comfortably inside a patient's nose. The "nose buds," as Marsh calls them, are made of highly-pliable molded silicone, allowing them to seal but remain comfortable. The device runs on an 8 hour lithium-air battery, making it practical for one night of use. A rechargeable model is the ideal, but Marsh says the technology just isn't here yet and the device needs to get to the market.
"I need to get this out and save some lives," he says.
But with the funding pouring in, you would think Marsh would close the campaign and begin the next phase of this needed product. And after admitting that, yes, the support is "amazing," he says people need to realize that more money means more innovation for this product and others like it. "This micro blower technology is a platform technology. It can be used in many applications," Marsh added.
So he hopes people will continue to donate, and that the new breakthroughs will bud from there. And there are still plenty of perks left for donations. Many guarantee supplies of the device—once approved by the FDA—with high amounts granting access to exclusive events and meetings with the company. The campaign speculates product deliveries will start as soon as July 2017.
"It's the beginning of a journey," Marsh says.
And this journey brings a good night sleep to some who really need it.
