Challenge

The National Sleep Foundation estimates that more than 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, a condition in which a person’s airway becomes restricted while they sleep. Although sleep apnea can be effectively treated with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, up to 83% of patients discontinue therapy largely because traditional CPAP devices are unwieldy, industrial looking, and complicated to use.

Non-compliance with CPAP therapy puts patients at risk for more serious conditions— including heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. Philips Respironics sought to boost compliance and improve patient health by partnering with Continuum to create a CPAP device that delivers comfortable sleep apnea treatment in a way that is more intuitive and less obtrusive to the patient. Because Philips Respironics intended to sell the new device globally, our team stepped up to design a product that was equally attractive to and usable by American, European, and Asian patients alike.

Research & Insights

Solution

With Continuum’s help, Philips Respironics boosted treatment compliance for sleep apnea patients with a system that delivers exceptional therapy, enhanced patient comfort, and user-friendly features.

The Respironics REMstar Pro with C-Flex is a sleek and convenient CPAP that looks more like a stylish bedroom humidifier than a medical device. It features an unobtrusive profile with tubing connected in the back and a "hidden" water chamber for patients who require additional hydration. To simplify patient use, the device includes a panel to cover the controls that are only used by clinicians.

The REMstar Pro’s user interface has unique buttons so that patients can make adjustments in the dark, without having to get out of bed. The product’s design aesthetic also promotes compliance since patients feel more comfortable leaving it on their bedside tables, in plain sight and within reach. Even the size of the device makes it more effective: weighing in at just two pounds, it easily fits in a suitcase so users are more likely to take it on the road.

Results

The universal design of the REMstar Pro has increased international appeal and penetration into global markets—including North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The product’s clean lines and improved controls lead to better compliance, increased usage, and greater revenues as healthcare providers realize that this platform is highly effective and favored by sleep apnea patients.

In fact, a study published in CHEST—the official publication of the American College of Chest Physicians—showed that patients using REMstar Pro with C-Flex used their therapy an average of 1.7 hours longer per night than patients on a traditional CPAP after three months, and the difference in adherence widened over time.

Most important, Philips Respironics REMstar Pro has given thousands of people a better night’s sleep, while reducing their risk of developing more serious health issues linked to sleep apnea.