This FDA-approved tongue stimulator can reduce snoring and sleep apnea

There are not many options currently available on the market to help snorers relieve their suffering, or the suffering of those who are choked.But New gadget Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday game changer Because of those bedtime worries, and the best part is that you don’t even have to wear it at night.

The eXciteOSA device is the first type of clear to treat snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which the airways are routinely obstructed during sleep by stimulating the muscles of the human tongue. The device. Many other treatments for snoring and sleep apnea aim to target the nose and keep the airways in the nostrils clean, but the tongue falls backwards while a person sleeps to create airflow. Many of the causes behind the problem are that they can block.

To prevent this from happening, the eXciteOSA mouthpiece uses four electrodes (two above the tongue and two below) to provide neuromuscular stimulation through a series of electrical pulses across a rest period. I will. Patients use the device with their tongue for 20 minutes a day for a period of 6 weeks to begin, and then once a week.

On Friday, the FDA granted device developer Signifier Medical Technologies a marketing authorization. According to the agency, the device reduced large snoring (> 40 dB) by 20% in 87 of the 155 patients involved in the evaluation. Press release.. Of a subset of patients suffering from both snoring and mild sleep apnea, this device measures each person’s apnea-hypopnea index to measure the severity of obstructive sleep apnea, 48 patients. Forty-one of them reduced by an average of 48%. With respect to side effects, the most common FDA observations were excessive salivation, tongue or tooth discomfort, tongue tingling, tooth filling sensitivity, metallic taste, nausea, and jaw tightening.

The eXciteOSA mouthpiece is currently prescription only and is intended for adults 18 years and older who do not have contraindications or devices such as pacemakers, implantable pacing leads, temporary or permanent implants, orthodontics, dental jewelry, etc. And. It is also not intended to treat severe obstructive sleep apnea, and patients should undergo a comprehensive dental examination before starting treatment.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that can lead to serious medical conditions if left untreated, such as glaucoma, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, cognitive and behavioral disorders, the FDA said. I have. One study According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 936 million adults between the ages of 30 and 69 are experiencing mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea worldwide.

“Obstructive sleep apnea not only affects sleep quality, but can also have other serious health effects if left untreated. Today’s approval is for snoring and mild sleep apnea. It offers new options for thousands of individuals experiencing breathing, “said Malvina Eidermann, director of the FDA’s Medical Equipment and Radiation Health Center’s Ophthalmology, Anesthesia, Respiratory, Otolaryngology and Dental Equipment Offices. The doctor says. Health, agency press release.

Snoring can definitely be annoying to those who are forced to listen to the racket all night (I can’t tell at all from my experience here …), but many of its symptoms are obstructive. It overlaps with sleep apnea, but it does not necessarily indicate a more serious sleep disorder. However, this is a common problem. About 45% of adults snore occasionally, while a quarter of adults snore regularly. by Johns Hopkins Researcher..

The eXciteOSA mouthpiece is clearly not a cure for the Holy Grail for these problems, but it has shown some promising results so far, stimulating future treatments to try new ways to pinch these sleep states in the buds. There is likely to be. And anyone who deals with a snoring partner will agree that any solution that leads to more Zzz and less earplugs is good.