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exciteOSA. (2021, Febuary 07). Retrieved from exciteOSA: https://exciteosa.com.

Medgadget. (2021, February 06). Retrieved from Medgadget: www.medgadget.com.

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My Team Selection:
Andrew (Activator) - Makes things happen by putting thoughts into action.[influencing]
Abraham (Arranger) - Organization skills [executing]
Matthew (Maximizer) - Focuses of ways to promote personal and group excellence. [influencing]
Ivan (Intellectual) - Appreciative of intellectual discussions and excellent thinkers.[strategic thinking]
Fernando (Focus) - Takes direction, follows through and makes the necessary corrections.[executing]

My top five strengths:
Analytical (Strategic Thinking)  - I am a inquisitive person and think matters through logically.
Learner (Strategic Thinking) - I strive daily to learn something "new" and have a genuine desire to be better than the day before.
Restorative (Executing) - I choose to deal with problems quickly to determine the best course of action for a resolution.
Empathy (Relationship Building) - I pride myself with being empathic without being sympathetic. I am cognizant of others feelings and situations.
Includer (Relationship Building) - Accepting of others

My strengths would help my team selections by providing a balance and promoting diversity.

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Not for patients with OSA with apnea-hypopnea index 15 or greater
Not recommended for patients with dental implants
Not recommended for patients with pace makers
FDA completed small trial of 115 patients to examine efficacy of device
Mouthpiece may not be aesthetically pleasing to all patients

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Treatment occurs via mouthpiece
Tongue muscle strengthening
Device targets the root cause of snoring rather than treating the symptoms
Treatment takes 20 minutes a day for six weeks then weekly thereafter
Daytime therapy
Improved air exchange
Improved sleep

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This device has the potential to be very beneficial to patients suffering from OSA and excessive storing. Improved tongue strengthening, better sleep and prevention of airway closuring from simply wearing a mouthpiece for only 20 minutes a day for the first six weeks then weekly is definitely innovative. The device appears easy to use which may promote patient compliance. The neuromuscular tongue stimulator will greatly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from OSA. Excessive snoring can potentiate other significant issues for the patient including sleep disruption for the patient and their partner, elevated blood pressure, daytime fatigue and irritability.

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According to Medgadgets the FDA has authorized the use of the first device (eXciteOSA) specifically designed to promote tongue strengthening and prevent airway closure to reduce storing related to mild obstructive sleep apnea.  eXciteOSA is manufactured by Signifer Medical technologies "targets the root cause not the symptoms"(exciteOSA, 2021) of snoring. eXciteOSA  works by relaxing the tongue muscles to prevent partial airway collapse via a mouthpiece which sends electrical stimulation to the tongue. The mouthpiece is made of silicone for comfort and was selected as "The iF DESIGN AWARD 2020 for design excellence in the medical device category" according to eXcite OSA. The safety and effectiveness of the device was evaluated by the FDA " in a 48 patient sub-set with snoring and mild OSA, the average AHI reduced by 48% from 10.21 to 5.27 in 41 out of 48 patients"(Medgadget, 2021).

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) impacts millions of people with wide-ranging effects that can have a serious impact on overall health. There are a number of technologies to help manage and sometimes treat the condition, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. Most patients end up receiving therapies that don't treat the underlying causes of poor breathing during sleep.

The FDA has now authorized, via the De Novo process, the first device that trains the muscles around the tongue to become stronger in order to reduce snoring and help alleviate OSA.

Signifier Medical Technologies, a company with offices in London, UK and Needham, MA can now make its eXciteOSA device available in the United States. Previously called SnooZeal, which we covered on Medgadgetfive years ago, the device has a mouthpiece with four electrodes that are positioned around the tongue. The electrodes deliver electrical muscle stimulation, similar to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), but to the area around the lower tongue. Strengthened muscles end up preventing the closing of the airway, allowing for the free movement of air in and out of the lungs.

Treatment takes twenty minutes a day for a period of six weeks, with weekly sessions thereafter. This can be done at home or anytime the patient doesn't want to look silly using the device around strangers.

This technology is not for everyone, including people with pacemakers, all kinds of dental implants, nor for people with OSA with an Apnea-Hypopnea Index of 15 or higher.

In a recent trial, cited by the FDA as an important milestone for its authorization of the eXciteOSA, there were some impressive results:

The FDA assessed the safety and effectiveness of the eXciteOSA device in 115 patients with snoring, including 48 patients with snoring and mild sleep apnea. All patients used the device for 20 minutes, once a day for 6 weeks, then discontinued use for 2 weeks before they were reassessed. Overall, the percent of time spent snoring at levels louder than 40dB was reduced by more than 20% in 87 out of the 115 patients. In a 48-patient subset with snoring and mild OSA, the average AHI reduced by 48%, from 10.21 to 5.27, in 41 out of 48 patients. The most common adverse events observed were excessive salivation, tongue or tooth discomfort, tongue tingling, dental filling sensitivity, metallic taste, gagging and tight jaw.

Product info page: eXciteOSA...

Flashback: SnooZeal Prevents Snoring by Training Tongue During Daytime

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Neuromuscular Tongue Stimulator for Snoring Authorized by FDA |

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) impacts millions of people with wide-ranging effects that can have a serious impact on overall health. There are a number of technologies to help manage and sometimes treat the condition, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. Most patients end up receiving therapies that don't treat the underlying causes of poor breathing during sleep.

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February 9, 2021

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"Medgadget"
"exciteOSA"

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Health Innovation: Technology to Improve Obstructive Sleep Apnea