A Concise History And Timeline Of The Cpap Machine And Sleep Apnea

By Author: Edward Nolan
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They are used to relieve the symptoms of the serious condition Sleep Apnea. Today it is believed that over 17 million people in just America alone that suffer with Sleep Apnea.

Below is a brief overview of the history of the condition and the research and treatments which were conducted.

The First Recordings of Sleep Apnea: Charles Dickens 1836 In the early 19th Century, The Pickwick Papers was published, the first novel by Charles Dickens, and was released in 20 monthly parts. A sub character within the books called Joe, was often described as a "Fat Boy" who spends his time primarily eating and sleeping. Joe's sleep disorder is the origin for the medical term " Pickwickian Syndrome", which lead to the subsequent diagnosis Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. However "Pickwickian syndrome", as a medical term wasn't used for years later.

1956: The True effects of Sleep Apnea revealed Around 1956, Dr. Burwell was treating patients who often had congestive heart failure, extreme sleepiness or fatigue, as well as improper airflow to the lungs; or respiratory failure. He told the story of an ...
... overweight business man who whilst playing poker missed out on the chance to play a winning hand of three aces and two kings, the reason: he fell asleep. This is the first time " Pickwickian Syndrome" was recorded as a medical condition.

1965: Research in to sleep disorders begins In 1965, Dr. Gastaut with a team of French and German doctors started researching into the disorder, now called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Here whilst examining various patients they discovered and recalled the three different strains of Sleep Apnea. In 1969, Obstructive Sleep Apnea was started in the trachea and injecting breathing tubes.

The First CPAP Machine:1981 The CPAP machine was invented back in 1981 by professor and Australian Colin Sullivan and his team. Their idea was straight forward and they were inspired by reversing how a vacuum cleaner works, expelling air instead of sucking in. They then applied this idea to a mask that the Sleep Apnea person can wear whilst asleep. This treatment wasn't seen as a efficient procedure until at least the mid 80s.

Sleep Apnea and CPAP machines now: CPAP machines have developed since the older models, they are smaller, much more comfortable and make a lot less noise. Since Sullivan's development and creation of the earlier CPAP machine, CPAP became the more popular and favoured way to treat Sleep Apnea. CPAP humidifiers and cushioned masks so when using the CPAP is a stress less and comfortable experience. A lot different from the basic, loud and big machines of the 1980s.

Through the past century Sleep Apnea has developed from being a mystery sleep condition to something that can easily be helped. Thanks to extensive research and support networks, Sleep Apnea is not ignored and there is always help at hand if you do have the condition.

A CPAP Humidifier is an instrument that increases moisture in the air. Used together with an airway pressure machine, such as a CPAP, Bilevel device or APAP, these humidifiers contain a water unit that keeps air dryness as low as possible. Generally the pressure air provided by an airway pressure machine can dry out the inside of the nose and mouth. This can feel uncomfortable at times as well as lead to coughs and nosebleeds. A humidifier can be attached to a CPAP Machine or it can be bought as a separate equipment piece - quite a number of them use water that's heated and require a source of power but other types, described as passover humidifiers, which use a hose to moisten the air.