How an RN and Her Patient (Like You) Found Out Micro-CPAPs Don’t Work

Micro-CPAP's

• A micro-CPAP uses micro-blowers (itty bitty fans) to generate the air pressure you breathe.
• Micro-CPAPs have nasal dilator exhalation vents that allow you to exhale through the nose; this is problematic for mouth breathing.
• Because micro-CPAPs are so compact, they are cordless and run on a rechargeable battery.

Traditional-CPAP Machines

• CPAP machines generate air pressure too, and they use a technology to recognize apneic events—when you stop breathing at night.
• CPAPs have built-in humidifiers and ramp functions that make air pressure more comfortable.
• Unless your CPAP machine is designed for travel, it must be plugged into an electrical outlet.

The primary benefit of using a CPAP machine is knowing that it’s backed by scientific research. After all, there’s a reason they are considered the most-effective, non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA.)

To get a CPAP machine, you need a prescription from your primary care doctor that states you have a sleep disorder, and how you’re diagnosed with a sleep disorder is by having a sleep study. During a sleep study, a few sensors will monitor your breathing pattern, airflow, oxygen levels, and heart rate to determine the cause of your sleep problems. This can be done either in-home or in a lab, and the data collected will be used to calculate your severity of sleep apnea.

Now, would you really want to use a micro-CPAP, something that can be purchased without a scientifically-backed diagnosis, when you have the opportunity to be confident in the treatment you’re receiving?

According To An RN

Michelle Worley, Director of Clinical Operations at Aeroflow Sleep and Registered Nurse, circles back to the importance of scientific research, “Micro-CPAPs have not received FDA approval and are still a few years away from that. The Airing Micro-CPAP Device specifically is not even being sold at this time. Apparently, Airing has asked for funding donations from the public and has received around $1.9 million and has not produced anything.” Indiegogo and fundairing.com are two of these crowdfunding sites.

This immediately raises red flags in the minds of most healthcare providers, but aside from the skepticism felt by the experts, there are also key parts and functions missing from micro-CPAPs. Michelle gave us an example, “Patients cannot attach a humidifier to a micro-CPAP, which results in dry nasal passages that cause nose bleeds, congestion, even pain.” No one wants that.

Furthermore, the Airing device is not as conventional as it looks. Michelle elaborates, “The micro-blowers inside are traditionally used to cool computer chips [in an effort] to prevent overheating.” You’re not a computer, so no, you shouldn’t use a micro-CPAP. In fact, after testing it, one of Michelle’s own patients wholeheartedly agrees the entire product is misleading.

We have changed the patient’s name for his protection. Otherwise, the following is 100% true. Let’s call the patient Jake.

Jake hypothesized that micro-CPAP devices could produce an air pressure of at least 5.0 cmH2O, which is the highest starting continuous positive airway pressure on one of the most popular CPAP machines today. If true, he could therefore conclude that micro-CPAPs are equally as likely to treat OSA. 

For the purpose of his experiment, Jake purchased a micro-CPAP through Amazon as well as a CPAP meter, which is basically a tire pressure gauge specifically designed to measure the cmH2O levels emitted from a CPAP machine.

He set his CPAP machine to start at 5.0 cmH2O for the first 5 minutes before the autotitrator began to ramp up. When Jake attached the CPAP meter to the end of the hose where his CPAP mask should be, it correctly showed 5.0 cmH2O of air pressure was blowing from his CPAP machine prior to ramping up.

When placed at the end of the micro-blowers, there was not enough air pressure coming from the micro-CPAP to lift, let alone move, the marble within the CPAP meter. A couple more attempts yielded the same results and then killed the rechargeable battery. Not to mention, only one of the two micro-blowers turned on at any given time. Thus, Jake concluded that the micro-CPAP cannot treat OSA and ultimately doesn’t work.