In a sign that more obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients are being diagnosed and treated, Philips announced this week that it has sold more than 10 million of its DreamWear CPAP masks and cushions.
Sleep apnea is estimated to affect more than 100 million people, according to a University of Toronto survey, and according to SleepAnea.org data, an estimated 22 million Americans suffer from OSA.
Philips designed the DreamWear line with fit and comfort characteristics aimed at increasing comfort, such as a frame that accommodates multiple cushions; the hose placed on the top of the head; and materials and fit that reduce red marks, discomfort and irritation on the nose bridge.
According to John Frank, business leader of sleep & respiratory care at Philips, the company has a goal of improving three billion lives a year by 2025.
“The invention of the DreamWear mask was not just an incremental improvement on existing CPAP mask designs, but a generational leap forward in terms of comfort and usability,” Frank said. “Selling 10 million masks and cushions in just three years is a testament to the popularity of the patient-centric approach to design in health care, in addition to a proof point in the effectiveness of our innovative line of masks.