Magnets offer hope for people with sleep apnea

Of course, this is experimental at this time. I am happy with CPAP, so I'm not planning to do this. However, some cannot tolerate CPAP or do not find it effective, so maybe it's good for those.

The idea is that a small magnet is implanted, and a second magnet is worn in a collar, forcing the airway open.

Link ===> http://abc7news.com/health/magnets-offe ... a/1758876/

No MRI's. If it even works, I think that would be a pretty big con since you never know what your future needs may be.

D.H. wrote:Of course, this is experimental at this time. I am happy with CPAP, so I'm not planning to do this. However, some cannot tolerate CPAP or do not find it effective, so maybe it's good for those.

The idea is that a small magnet is implanted, and a second magnet is worn in a collar, forcing the airway open.

Link ===> http://abc7news.com/health/magnets-offe ... a/1758876/

Wow, thats crazy. Great idea but yeah, the MRI thing...

When I looked into the Inspire Procedure which unfortunately, I didn't qualify for, I was willing to accept the negatives of not being able to have an MRI. All I cared about was finding something that would give me my life back. Worrying about something that might be an issue down the road wasn't on my agenda.

DH, thanks for posting the link. I will try to find out if there are plans to expand this trial.

49er

49er wrote:When I looked into the Inspire Procedure which unfortunately, I didn't qualify for, I was willing to accept the negatives of not being able to have an MRI.

'
I agree...not being able to have a MRI isn't the end of the world.
I can't have one because of the metal plate now in my neck.
Haven't needed an MRI but should something happen that an MRI might be needed...there are alternatives like a regular CAT scan or something similar.
I HAD to fix the neck...I might never need another MRI (had one done which found the neck problem) so It was fix a for sure current problem and not be able to have an MRI maybe down the road maybe if needed. Easy choice to make.

About the magnet thing...I didn't even bother reading it but IF it even worked...and IF someone couldn't use cpap for whatever reason...not being able to have an MRI later is not a reason in my book to not do something that is needed NOW.

I agree that you have to choose the alternative that is best for you at the time. Besides the MRI though, what about a pacemaker? I guess you could always have one removed if the other was needed. But then you are at square one. It would be a much more difficult decision than the one to use CPAP.

GERD can now be treated by placing a ring of magnetic beads around the weakened lower esophageal sphincter. (LES)
This would also eliminate use of MRI. How bad would your GERD need to be in order to go for this?
Pacemakers have been designed to be compatible with MRI, but MRI remains out of reach for many who would need it.
MRI is not the end all/be all, and I for one, look forward to its replacement.

chunkyfrog wrote:GERD can now be treated by placing a ring of magnetic beads around the weakened lower esophageal sphincter. (LES)
This would also eliminate use of MRI. How bad would your GERD need to be in order to go for this?
Pacemakers have been designed to be compatible with MRI, but MRI remains out of reach for many who would need it.
MRI is not the end all/be all, and I for one, look forward to its replacement.

True on pacemakers, but like XPAP the one you get isn"t one of those, it's the cheapest they can find, maybe if you are lucky they can make some defective leads for it. Jim BTW: now past 11 years on same De-Fib battery, what does that tell me, It's not able to work, my Timex watch battery won't last that on.

Maybe it's ran by the Energizer Bunny, she was preggo when installed, and the device is not running on the 10th generation of Energizer Bunnies. Jim

My mother-in-law died with one of those defective pieces of crap inside her.
We suspect it KILLED her.
I will be avoiding any product from Medtronic as long as possible.

chunkyfrog wrote:My mother-in-law died with one of those defective pieces of crap inside her.
We suspect it KILLED her.
I will be avoiding any product from Medtronic as long as possible.

Even if it works you only have a 35% chance of making it to the hospital, It's highly likely it caused her damage, and if it fired the pain probably did her more damage, mine has never fired, thank goodness. It's the worst decision I ever made in healthcare, the bad thing, it will be replaced with dual chamber wires, I now need the pacer to work correctly. Lucky Me! Meanwhile, here I set waiting for battery acid to run down my chest. Jim

D.H. wrote:Of course, this is experimental at this time. I am happy with CPAP, so I'm not planning to do this. However, some cannot tolerate CPAP or do not find it effective, so maybe it's good for those.

The idea is that a small magnet is implanted, and a second magnet is worn in a collar, forcing the airway open.

Link ===> http://abc7news.com/health/magnets-offe ... a/1758876/

That theory/research/technology is at least 10 years old. Been discussed at some length, beginning back in 2006.

viewtopic/t115562/search.php?keywords=magnet

viewtopic.php?t=2836

viewtopic/t115562/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8 ... 2879&hilit

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... oring.html

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6495&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit


Den

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Seems that it it would work, but I prefer not to have an invasive treatment when not needed.

JeffL wrote:Seems that it it would work, but I prefer not to have an invasive treatment when not needed.

As do most successful XPAP users, Air is Great! Jim

Goofproof wrote:

JeffL wrote:Seems that it it would work, but I prefer not to have an invasive treatment when not needed.

As do most successful XPAP users, Air is Great! Jim

Agreed. As I stated originally, it's only for those who cannot tolerate CPAP or for whom CPAP does no effectively treat SDB. It's even possible that in some extreme cases, patients would need this and CPAP at the same time!

As far as the MRI goes, they were able to design pacemakers that did not prevent patients from getting MRIs, so maybe they can do the same for these devices.

D.H. wrote:

Goofproof wrote:

JeffL wrote:Seems that it it would work, but I prefer not to have an invasive treatment when not needed.

As do most successful XPAP users, Air is Great! Jim

Agreed. As I stated originally, it's only for those who cannot tolerate CPAP or for whom CPAP does no effectively treat SDB. It's even possible that in some extreme cases, patients would need this and CPAP at the same time!

As far as the MRI goes, they were able to design pacemakers that did not prevent patients from getting MRIs, so maybe they can do the same for these devices.

DH,

Your point was understood initially. You don't have to repeat yourself:)

49er