With more patients seeking medical care for sleep disorders, the world is waking up to the challenge of healthy sleep, its impact on overall health and the need for a good’s night rest.
During the recent IFA conference here in Berlin, Philips presented the Dream Family solution designed to improve the sleep therapy experience for people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). More than 100 million people worldwide are estimated to have OSA, a serious condition that is treated with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. The Dream Family, comprised of the DreamWear mask, DreamStation PAP device, and DreamMapper patient engagement app, is designed to engage sleep apnea patients with one of the most comfortable and effective therapies available.
The components of the Dream Family were inspired by feedback from more than 900 patients as well as insights from clinicians who treat sleep apnea. This input combined with Philips’ more than four decades of experience developing revolutionary patient-centric solutions led to the award-winning design of the Dream Family. Since their launch in October 2015, DreamWear and DreamStation have been honored for excellence in design, including recent iF Design, Red Dot, Good Design Australia, and Core77 accolades.
“Sleep therapy can be challenging, and our goal is to help people across the globe get a better night’s rest – whether they live with a chronic sleep condition or are struggling to achieve eight hours a night,” said John Frank, CEO of the Sleep and Respiratory Care unit at Philips.
“Next to nutrition and exercise, sleep is the third pillar of health and now we are looking to the future for all people who need help with improving their sleep quality. We intend to make good sleep possible
for everyone.”
It’s interesting that they’ve stuck to the design of a mask for treating sleep apnea. This year, Startup Airing raised more than $1.5 million on Indiegogo for its creation of a far cheaper, mask-less, cordless, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device to treat obstructive sleep apnea, an alternative to masks which many users find uncomfortable to wear at night, to the extent that 50% of CPAP users stop using it within one year. However, they have yet to get FDA clearance, a process that can take some time.
Light therapy goes mainstream
Philips also showcased two light therapy solutions designed to improve the experience of getting out of bed.
Philips’ EnergyUp Energy Lights lights help combat energy dips caused by jet lag, long hours inside an office, or general fatigue. A white light mimics the natural energizing power of daylight, and is clinically proven to increase energy levels and mood. There’s also a blue light for people to use when traveling or at the office.
There’s also Wake-up Light, clinically proven to provide a more energetic wake-up in the morning and reduces sleepiness after waking up. The technology allows users to simulate the sunrise and choose the preferred sound for their wake up. They aren’t cheap, retailing from $159 but do also function as a radio and alarm clock.
It’s good to see Philips creating products that have the benefit to improve the lives of many sleepless people, who would probably pay anything for a good night’s sleep and greater energy levels.
