Philips has acquired NightBalance, a Netherlands-based company offering a device that treats positional obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) and positional snoring.
POSA is obstructive sleep apnea that occurs primarily when an individual is laying on his or her back. Nightbalance’s device, dubbed the Sleep Position Trainer (SPT), is a small unit worn inside a belt around the patient’s chest. As needed, the device gently vibrates to remind the user to roll off their back for better breathing. The SPT monitors the user’s sleep patterns and adjusts the patterns and intensity of its vibrations to suit the user in an effort to make gradual improvements to sleeping habits without disrupting sleep, according to information released by the company.
"NightBalance offers a unique, patient friendly solution to treat positional obstructive sleep apnea and positional snoring that is highly complementary to our current offerings," said John Frank, business leader for sleep & respiratory care at Philips, in a prepared statement. "This acquisition will help us further expand our leadership position in the growing home care market, and our ability to deliver integrated solutions that drive efficiencies and improved outcomes."
At Philips, SPT will join a slate of products designed to treat sleep apnea, including masks, CPAP systems and software.
"We founded NightBalance in 2009 with the ambition to improve the lives of positional apnea patients worldwide", said Eline Vrijland-van Beest, CEO of NightBalance, in a news release. "I am proud that our innovation is in good hands with Philips. Their strength in connected sleep therapy solutions and global reach will accelerate the accessibility of the Sleep Position Trainer."
For more information about NightBalance or the Sleep Position Trainer, visit nightbalance.com.
