Two innovative and effective solutions to treat sleep apnoea

In the search for effective treatments against sleep apnoea, a new milestone has just been reached in England.

The innovation? An electronic chip to be implanted in patients affected by the condition. In the United Kingdom, nearly 8 million Britons suffer from sleep apnoea. Worldwide, this figure reaches one billion.

Sleep apnoea occurs when the airways are blocked during rest. As highlighted by the media Les Numériques, if the phenomenon lasts several minutes, it can prove fatal. A device named Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or pression positive continue in French, is essential to avoid any complications. The problem is that this machine is cumbersome and requires wearing a mask to maintain continuous air pressure in the airways during the sleeping phase.

Two alternatives to the cumbersome machine

Today, however, two alternatives are available to those affected by the condition: Genio from Nyxoah and Inspire. The Belgian company Nyxoah (specialising in sleep quality) has indeed developed a device called Genio to treat sleep apnoea. It's a neurostimulation device, significantly more comfortable than CPAP. This treatment requires a small intervention at the chin to implant a chip. A device is then attached to the chin, easily controllable remotely via a remote control or smartphone.

The chip Inspire, on the other hand, requires a more invasive procedure, with the implantation of devices in the chest and chin, notes Les Numériques. To prevent blockage, the airways and the tongue are stimulated during the night.

First tests

In the United Kingdom, the first tests have been conducted by the National Health Service (NHS), limited to patients who are unable to use a CPAP machine. The Inspire device has been in use for nearly 10 years. Its recent adoption by hospitals marks a turning point in its widespread use today.

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source: Les Numériques - Illustration: ©Unsplash)