NHS to Trial Innovative Device Offering New Hope for Sleep Apnoea Sufferers
The National Health Service is embarking on a groundbreaking trial of a new medical device that could transform treatment for the estimated eight million people in the United Kingdom living with sleep apnoea. This chronic disorder, characterised by repeated breathing interruptions during sleep due to airway blockages, represents a significant public health challenge with far-reaching consequences.
The Burden of Sleep Apnoea and Current Treatment Limitations
Sleep apnoea causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start throughout the night, leading to severe daytime tiredness, impaired concentration, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases including heart disease and stroke, and heightened likelihood of accidents both on the road and in workplaces. The condition's prevalence has been rising alongside increasing obesity rates, as excess fat deposits around the neck and throat narrow the upper airway, making collapse during sleep more probable.
Currently, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines remain the NHS gold-standard treatment, delivering pressurised air through a mask to maintain airway openness during sleep. However, this approach faces significant adherence challenges, with more than half of patients discontinuing use within a year due to discomfort, disruption, or inconvenience associated with the equipment.
The Zeus Sleep Device: A Discreet Alternative Approach
The innovative solution now entering NHS trials is the Zeus Sleep device, a discreet chin-worn apparatus that requires no face mask, mouthpiece, or invasive surgical procedure. Measuring approximately 7cm wide and resembling a boomerang-shaped patch, the device sits discreetly underneath the lower jaw and tongue, making it hardly visible compared to traditional CPAP equipment.
This novel technology employs gentle electrical stimulation to prevent airway collapse during sleep by maintaining tone in the tongue and throat muscles. Professor Joerg Steier of King's College London, whose two decades of research inspired the device's development, explained the physiological mechanism: The risk is, you stop breathing, and when you stop breathing, then the oxygen levels fall, and every time this happens, the heart then speeds up to disseminate oxygen faster throughout the body.
He further detailed how sleep apnoea disrupts normal sleep patterns: As the heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormones increase, the brain wakes up from a deep sleep into a superficial sleep state to wake up the body and activate the upper airway muscles. This repeated cycle prevents restorative sleep and contributes to the condition's debilitating effects.
Clinical Trial Details and Promising Early Results
The forthcoming study, led by experts at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, has received substantial public funding support. UK sleep health company Zeus Sleep has been awarded £1.48 million from the National Institute for Health and Care Research to facilitate the research, which aims to recruit approximately 200 patients across seven NHS regions throughout the United Kingdom.
Researchers anticipate commencing the trial this summer, with data collection expected to continue through 2028. Early NHS-led studies have yielded encouraging preliminary results, including:
- 84 per cent of users reporting improved sleep quality
- 78 per cent experiencing increased daytime alertness
- 85 per cent continuing long-term device use
This adherence rate substantially exceeds current CPAP continuation statistics, suggesting the new approach may overcome significant barriers to consistent treatment.
Positioning Within the Treatment Landscape
Professor Steier provided important context regarding the device's therapeutic positioning: We know it's not as good as CPAP therapy, particularly for the high end of the severe spectrum of the disease. But it's good for the majority of moderate and mild conditions.
The Zeus device occupies a unique middle ground between existing treatment options. While permanent implantable devices offering similar muscle stimulation exist, they require invasive surgery and carry substantial costs of approximately £20,000, limiting their accessibility. Conversely, basic transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machines retail for around £30 but primarily address snoring rather than comprehensive sleep apnoea management. The Zeus device, currently marketed for snoring reduction at £250, represents a potentially more accessible and comfortable alternative for many patients.
This NHS trial represents a significant step forward in addressing a widespread health condition that affects millions across Britain, potentially offering a more tolerable and sustainable treatment pathway for those struggling with traditional approaches to sleep apnoea management.
