New Generation of Respiratory Supportive Devices.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and AUT University’s Institute of Biomedical Technologies are embarking on a $2 million project to
develop a new generation of respiratory supportive devices.
These new devices will provide relief for a range of respiratory conditions including obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
OSA is a common problem that takes place during sleep when the upper airways become overly relaxed and obstruct a
person’s breathing. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the standard and most effective treatment for OSA. A
CPAP device consists of a flow generator and humidifier.
Currently F Healthcare has about a 7% share of the US$2 billion worldwide OSA CPAP market. Research has found that the CPAP market
is growing rapidly and accepts new technology readily. To continue to outperform its competitors, F Healthcare is undertaking projects aimed at developing new core technologies for the components that make up its CPAP
systems.
IBTec, one of the world’s leading centres for research in lung supportive devices, has worked with F Healthcare on more than 20 projects over the past 11 years and was seen as a natural fit for development partner in
this new project.
The three-year project will investigate the use of new humidification and pressure generation technologies to be
incorporated into future F Healthcare CPAP devices.
The newly announced project is one of the largest contracts that F Healthcare has ever signed with a New Zealand university.
ENDS