Sonapillow?

elliejose wrote:Dr. Najeeb Zubari is the person who invented it. What about quotes from unbiased folks? Are there any of those? I haven't seen the Men's Health article yet. I would like to hear from an unbiased study before I spend $70. When some of you try it, please let all of us hear your results.

I was very interested when I read the brief article in the latest issue of Men's Health, but after a little research, I'm not convinced that it would actually do the job. If there is any truth to the claim of a 60% reduction in apnea events, that would put me in the 10-11 range, just a shade above where I am after all the hassle of CPAP.

The problem is that there's no easy way to determine the actual results with the pillow, unless you also buy one of those gadgets that records your oxygen level all night. I'd have to see a whole lot more research on this one before donating $70 to the developer of the pillow.

OCO

I have studied this problem for over 20 years, have invented, patented and sold many head and neck support devices and even have a pillow that has been marketed for sleep apnea and snoring that has also been given a 510K number by the FDA. The rule on the FDA approval is as follows: "Submission of a premarket notification in accordance with this subpart, and a subsequent determination by the Commissioner that the device intended for introduction into commercial distribution is substantially equivalent to a device in commercial distribution before May 28, 1976, or is substantially equivalent to a device introduced into commercial distribution after May 28, 1976, that has subsequently been reclassified into class I or II, does not in any way denote official approval of the device. Any representation that creates an impression of official approval of a device because of complying with the premarket notification regulations is misleading and constitutes misbranding."
My pillows have been used for years successfully for airway management in ORs and ERs, as it helps to open up the airway for airway management by medical experts. It also, for the same anatomic reasons, opens up the airway for non-airway medical management things like snoring and sleep apnea. I just haven't had any financial help with large companies, nice advertising, connections with television stars like the Sona Pillow seems to have. The Sona pillow is different than mine. It may work. Someone has to do a large comparative study. Mine has been studied by an independent sleep lab. 20% of the time it, it cures the sleep apnea and snoring. 20% it greatly helps. 20% it does nothing. 20% it slightly worsens the sleep study score, and 20% the patients find it uncomfortable.
As an anesthesiologist, I have taken care of patients that have had all the different surgeries for OSA. I would be happyy to talk to anyone on the subject.