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Colin Sullivan Slides: How He Discovered CPAP

(Double-click on image to enlarge it)


Colin Sullivan started his presentation by setting the stage for what the state of Sleep Apnea was when he invented CPAP in 1979.  In a word: bleak.


Colin Sullivan talked about his original research subjects: dogs; he also talked about his colleagues at the time



It took a long time for Colin Sullivan and his team to find even one single self-identified Sleep Apnea patient back then.


Colin Sullivan shows pictures of his original notebooks for keeping track of all his findings regarding CPAP. These notebooks were off limits to him for years because of patent litigation, and this is his first time sharing them with the public.


Colin Sullivan shows pictures of his original notebooks for keeping track of all his findings regarding CPAP.  These notebooks were off limits to him for years because of patent litigation, and this is his first time sharing them with the public.



Colin Sullivan shows pictures of his original notebooks for keeping track of all his findings regarding CPAP.  These notebooks were off limits to him for years because of patent litigation, and this is his first time sharing them with the public.


His first real-life human experiment: a 33-year-old construction worker who had such severe Sleep Apnea that his co-workers found he had fallen asleep on scaffolding.


Success.



At the time, Sullivan's discovery was dismissed by the New England Journal of Medicine.


Colin Sullivan giving talk at conference room inside Hilton, New Orleans; ATS conference.



So many barriers to the discovery actually being used by patients on an ongoing basis.


Patients were the ones to drive CPAP forward as a treatment; they preferred it to a hole in their necks.


Colin Sullivan spent sleepless nights after the CPAP machine was given to the first patients wondering whether there would be some snafu that would hurt/ kill the patients using it.



Colin Sullivan was relieved that his first patient who took the machine home with him didn't die or have some other calamity caused by the CPAP befall him.



Colin Sullivan helped fabricate first masks.




Colin Sullivan after talk mingling with attendees.

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I love this! Thanks for sharing it with us Mike.

I want to add my thanks to Colin Sullivan for his persistence in developing CPAP on behalf of patients. Also, thanks to all the others who volunteered, and gave support in the process. I am benefitting from your efforts and caring.
A true pioneer.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DID NOT MENTION WAS THE FIRST CPAP WAS A MODIFIED VACUUM CLEANER. HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.
It is interesting that one of the greatest inventions of all time was initially dismissed by the New England Journal of Medicine.
The editor must have had sleep apnea.

Great article, Mike!
Ach, it has been said for years that getting published in the NEJM is as much a matter of politics as good research.
Hey, Mike. I remember reading a reference to that litigation, I'm not sure if it was between Resmed and Respironics or the forerunner of Resmed and Respironics. Has anyone run across more information about that litigation? Vaguely, it seems Respironics "won" a semi-victory, but I wish I remembered better and knew more.
Fudge!! To get any more than this I'd have to pay ....

MURRYSVILLE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 1996--Respironics Inc. (NASDAQ/NMS Symbol:RESP) Tuesday announced its response to a recent patent infringement suit filed by ResMed Ltd., an Australian medical products manufacturer.

The suit alleges infringement of a newly issued patent on the ramp technology component used in Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy devices. This suit represents the third legal action taken by ResMed against Respironics' product line. The first of these actions -- involving basic CPAP technology -- was resolved in Respironics' favor …


I also found another blurb that I would also have to pay for the rest of the article but that one referenced litigation regarding mask technology.
Respironics history from Wikipedia:

In 1976, company founder, Gerald McGinnis opened the company's first manufacturing facility for anesthesia masks near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Previous product research and manufacturing had occurred in the founder's kitchen. Other early products included endotrachial and tracheostomy products.

The company introduced the first continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for the treatment of sleep apnea in 1985. Three years later, in 1988, the company went public under the stock ticker symbol RESP. In 1992, Respironics received a patent for bi-level technology. This technology was originally intended as an improvement on CPAP, however, its use has expanded into the treatment of other breathing disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Other significant milestones were the acquisition of the ventilator company, LIFECARE International in 1996, sleep apnea competitor, Healthdyne Technologies in 1998 and medical monitor and sensor leader, Novametrix in 2002.


Resmed history from Wikipedia

ResMed was formed in 1989, its primary purpose was to commercialise a device for treating obstructive sleep apnea with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP treatment was commercialised by Peter Farrell and Professor Colin Sullivan. The company grew organically and through several acquisitions of small companies active in ventilation.
Sydney sues for slice of profits

Bernard Lane
From: The Australian
July 16, 2008 12:00AM
MEDICAL devices company ResMed Ltd, one of the handful of globally successful ventures with its origins in an Australian campus, is being sued by the university where it all began.

The University of Sydney, where medical researcher Colin Sullivan invented a nasal mask to treat sleep apnoea in the 1980s, has accused its commercial partner ResMed of infringing its patent and failing to pay royalties. All 12 models of Mirage Mask, marketed by ResMed, infringe the patent, the university said in Federal Court documents.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/sydney-sues-for-sl...
Thanks Mike for sharing this. How marvelous that this work was done so many years ago. Were there any stats shared as to the percentage of patients helped. After 18 months I still have no relief from the machine but your meetings demonstrated that I am not an anomaly. However, I'd prefer the sleep.

Thanks again for the information. Peaceful sleeping.

Christine.
Thanks for sharing this Mike!
I wonder if he's done any research on the Sleep Apnea Relief capsule. I use it and it works great but I'm curious if anyone has done any tests on it.

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