 |
|
 |
 |
| |
|
 |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||
| |
Sleep
apnea is a serious medical disorder, affecting 4% of men and 2% of
women. It is characterized by repetitive reductions of airflow during sleep due to the collapse of the pharyngeal airway, causing loud snoring, brief awakenings, hypoxemia and elevated blood pressure. Millions of apnea patients suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, headaches and hypertension. There is growing evidence that chronic sleep apnea runs in families, and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Sleep apnea is relatively unknown, with only about 15% diagnosed so far. Sleep apnea can only be diagnosed by a sleep study, costing anywhere from $600 to $1500. Unattended ambulatory studies, which are considered least expensive, are often unreliable. There is therefore a need for a low-cost screening device, which may help screen the general population and locate potential patients, while at the same time helping to minimize unnecessary and expensive studies. The FDA and CE approved SleepStrip® is a disposable home screening test for sleep apnea. Several research studies have shown that its indications correlate well with those of formal sleep studies. It is now available through health-care providers worldwide at a low price to the public as a self-administered test. Relevant patents have been applied for and granted and clinical studies performed in renowned sleep labs have proven its accuracy and effectiveness. Similar screening devices for other medical disorders are already under development.
|
|
|||||
 |
|||||||
