Sleep apnea device sees uptake in Europe and US

Zzoma, an FDA-cleared medical device 'designed by physicians' at Sleep Specialists has seen significant uptake in Europe and the US.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, approximately 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, an involuntary obstruction of breathing while sleeping. Zzoma is used in the treatment of OSA across the U.S., Ireland, Finland, Denmark, and other countries. Sleep Specialists, the firm behind the device, received its CE mark for Zzoma in 2011.

"Our vision was to develop a device that was more comfortable for patients than traditional apnea therapies while maintaining high efficacy," said Sila Yesilsoy, COO of Sleep Specialists. "Zzoma's acceptance worldwide speaks to our vision becoming a reality. We look forward to helping more patients minimize sleep disruption."

Zzoma is a device worn around the upper torso that keeps patients asleep on their sides by preventing supine or "on-the-back" sleeping. Clinicians may prescribe Zzoma as a first line therapy or as an alternative for patients who cannot tolerate oral appliances or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that Zzoma was equivalent to CPAP therapy in treating patients with positional OSA.

"I have used Zzoma in our hospital clinic over the last year," says Dr. Philip Tonnesen of the Danish Sleep Medicine Center at Glostrup Hospital in Denmark. "Overall, the device seems to a be a good alternative to CPAP in some patients with positional OSA."

"Zzoma physically prevents position change within sleep," says Professor Olli Polo of Unesta Oy in Finland. "Therefore, Zzoma is more gentle but still effective in preventing supine position during sleep."

Sleep Specialists, LLC also works with various U.S. and international distributors.

"Zzoma is our best-selling positional therapy device, and we attribute this to its great design and quality manufacturing," says Patrick Tessier, CEO of SnoreMart.com.

Zzoma is available to patients by prescription only in the U.S.