Evaluation of a new 'anti-snoring device'.

A new 'antisnoring device' based on the principle to induce a conditioned response was evaluated in 8 patients with habitual snoring. When patients snore the device starts to vibrate, making the snorers turn to the side position. Out of the 8 patients, 4 definite responders were identified. In these individuals the cumulative overnight sound produced above 40 dBA was clearly reduced. Moreover, these patients reported decreased daytime hypersomnolence but no change in sleep quality after using the antisnoring device for 4 weeks. Sleep staging did not reveal any significant changes in sleep architecture. However, two patients in the responder group were found to have increased rapid eye movement sleep time and time spent in stage 3 and 4, respectively. No changes in oxygen saturation were found in the responder or the nonresponder groups. The results indicate that the anti-snoring device may be useful to decrease snoring and to improve sleep in a subgroup of habitual snorers. The data do, however, not provide further information on the characteristics of this subgroup.