Missing out on a good night’s sleep can ruin your whole day. Your mood can be affected, you can find it hard to focus, and it can be nearly impossible to shake the sleepy feeling.
For those with obstructive sleep apnea this scenario can be an almost daily occurrence with other health concerns thrown into the mix.
One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea is the nightly use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. But for anyone who has seen a CPAP or used one, they can tell you the machine comes with its own frustrations.
Inventor and entrepreneur Stephen Marsh has created a device he thinks will eliminate the problems with traditional CPAP machines. Marsh calls his invention Airing, a hoseless, maskless, cordless micro-CPAP device.
For more information on Airing check out the video below:
A typical CPAP works by increasing the air pressure in your throat to keep your airway from collapsing, which is the cause of obstructive sleep apnea. To do this, a mask is fitted over your nose and sometimes mouth as well, then strapped tight around your head to create a seal. A hose then connects the mask to the machine so air can be blown in.
CPAP machines work but some people find them to be cumbersome and loud. According to Marsh 50% of CPAP users stop using their machine within a year of starting.
The Airing cordless CPAP is a decidedly different design from traditional CPAP machines. It’s a battery operated, one-time-use device that simply “plugs” into a user’s nose. Airing creates air pressure by using micro blowers, originally intended to regulate heat for chips in computers.
Marsh boasts over 75 patents and applications to his name in the fields of electronics, energy, healthcare and consumer products. With a resume like that it’s not a stretch for this serial inventor to set his sights on a CPAP solution.
To bring Airing to the market, Marsh has launched an Indiegogo campaign, raising more than $527,000 in just three days. If you are interested in investing in the Airing cordless CPAP, you can still contribute to the campaign.
But don’t expect to get your own supply anytime soon. The company still has to gain FDA approval and does not plan to ship until summer of 2017.
Image: Airing
Aira Bongco
Great invention. I love how people can come up with things that can help other people. It is as simple as finding an issue and then solving it with an invention.
Would love to see it work. I know lots of people using CPAP and they all joke about feeling like Darth Vader with those things on.
Juliana Pieri-Bell
I want to purchase this machine before September, will it be available? How much is it and will my insurance cover it, I have Anthem Blue Cross PPO.
Thanks
Juliana
Tabby McFarland
Unfortunately it won’t be available until 2017, the company still has to get FDA approval. But the company says it will run around $3 a unit and insurance will cover at least some of the cost. I think it will depend on individual insurance policies and companies.
bob fry
Where do we we get it?
Tabby McFarland
Right now you can purchase vouchers through the Indiegogo campaign that you can redeem once the product is available. But it won’t be on the market until 2017 so you will have to wait. I’m not sure where else it will be available once it does reach the market.
Here is the Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/airing-the-first-hoseless-maskless-micro-cpap#/story
They also have a website for the product: http://www.fundairing.com/#first-ever-micro-cpap
Michael
I am a CPAP user so can certainly understand the frustration.. But is a “one-time use device” economically feasible and ecologically responsible?
Tabby McFarland
The company claims the devices can be recycled, how recyclable they are may not be clear until they actually get on the market. They will run around $3 a unit, so it could cost you $90 a month or so. That price may or may not be worth it to CPAP users. The company does say insurance should cover at least some of the cost, but I suppose this will depend on individual insurance coverage.
Matt
Why not a rechargeable battery?!
Robert
Somethings wrong with the physics here. It takes a certain amount of energy to move 6L/min of air into lungs under pressure for 8 hours, and no current battery technology can possibly be that size and store that much power.
Tabby McFarland
These are the claims of the company: http://www.fundairing.com/faqs/
They do have a ways to go before it’s ready for market and the product still needs FDA approval. We might just have to wait and see how it turns out.
Dallas R. DEMPSTER
I am interested in investing as I am a CPAP user for over 3 years. I am concerned about the battery capability and its replacement. Please provide more technical information and results.
Thanks. Regards Dallas
Tabby McFarland
They have not reached the testing phase of this yet as far as I know. It won’t be available until 2017, so there is a ways to go. Each unit is one time use so there are no battery replacements. For more information you can check out their FAQ page: http://www.fundairing.com/faqs/
Rick Russell
There are 8 members of my family who would love to have this new product when it is released to the public. I can’t wait and would love to be one of your test subjects if you need any. Please keep me updated to all of your product updates.
Thank You
Rick Russell
10280 Bellingham Drive
Summerset , SD 57718
Tabby McFarland
If you want to contact the company that is making this product you can email them here: contact@fundairing.com
You can also sign up for updates here: http://www.fundairing.com/contact/
I hope this helps:)