Help is on the way for loud, heavy snorers with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University's Case School of Engineering are developing an implanted medical device slightly larger than a postage stamp to help 20 million Americans who suffer from the sleep disorder.

The device will operate like a heart pacemaker.

"We would like to see OSA syndrome patients sleep better, feel better and lead better and healthier lives," said Dominique Durand, the lead researcher and professor in biomedical engineering and neurosciences.

Those who suffer from OSA experience significant breathing cessations causing an array of complications such as a decrease in blood oxygen levels, sleep fragmentation, irregularities in the heart's normal beating pattern and hypertension.

"This serious disorder can become a major health risk, causing significant lung, neurocognitive deficits and heart disease over time," Durand said.

Although OSA is associated with known chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, heart failure, stroke, sexual dysfunction and depression, only a short list of remedies exists. The primary treatment is an external mask that forces oxygen into the airway and provides continuous oxygen pressure (CPAP).

The tiny device underway at Case is designed to offer relief to those who find the current CPAP masks uncomfortable. It will consist of an electrode, several leads and a 3cm diameter stimulator that is surgically implanted below the ear in the neck where it stimulates a targeted part of the hypoglossal nerve, which controls movement of the muscles involved in maintaining the opening of the upper airways.

Minor surgery under the care of a certified otorhinolaryngologist will be involved when the device reaches the commercial market.

The research is being conducted at the Case Neural Engineering Center. Durand is collaborating with, from Case, Kingman P. Strohl, director of the Center for Sleep Disorders Research, professor of medicine and professor of anatomy; Pierre Lavertu, associate professor of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery and oncology; and Dustin Tyler, a research associate in biomedical engineering. In addition, Anthony Carparso, a biomedical engineer, is involved in the project, and a local company, NDI Medical, also is collaborating in the development of the new device.

Return to the online edition of the 12-11-03 Campus News.