Over 350 million people in the world suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition in which the airway in the throat is blocked by soft tissue during sleep. If untreated, the problem can lead to serious cardiopulmonary illnesses, as the brain and the lungs are deprived of the right intake of oxygen.
The Givatayim-based company Discover Medical has developed a device called SomnuSeal to help treat patients suffering from this breathing disorder.
"We thought that the traditional mask was too uncomfortable to wear and studies showed that 50 percent of the patients ended up not using them because they could not fall asleep," Eran Lavi, CEO of Discover Medical, told Xinhua.
"What we did was put the mask inside the mouth, so as to prevent the abrasions that the external masks usually cause and we put it between the gums and the cheeks, without touching the teeth, " Lavi said.
"The patients see that the device is much smaller than the traditional air tank and mask, so it's less flashy and they feel less intimidated. Plus, since it pumps less air into the mouth, it 's also gentler on those patients who suffer from cardiac problems, " Lavi said.
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