Metis Laboratories, an R&D innovation laboratory, announced yesterday that it had developed a novel CPAP device built on the principles of nanotechnology. Metis says that the device, which they call "PAPWear," is integrated with clothing and wearable by a user. The total weight of the machine and the accompanying mask, tubing and headgear system, Metis says, is just 9-13 ounces, compared to current systems which typically weigh between three and five pounds. They call PAPWear a "paradigm shift" away from the current sleep apnea systems marketed by Respironics, ResMed, Fisher Paykel Healthcare and others. And indeed it would be, if it existed and were effective.

At the current time, however, we have little basis on which to judge either of those things. To our knowledge, no pictures have been released; no studies have been published; a recorded message on the Company's voice-mail tells users to send an email for more information, which this user did, but with no response; and a preliminary U.S. patent and trademark search revealed nothing formally filed with respect to a patent or trademark.

These guys may do a bang up job of creating nanotechnology, but if this is the way they intend to get out the word about a revolutionary new product, they certainly have a thing or two to learn about advertising. In any case, we at SleepGuide reserve judgment on the merits of the product until we learn more. At this point, sounds like a good idea, but then again, the world of health care is littered with the corpses of good ideas that never saw the light of day.

We wish PAPWear a better outcome.