[Health] REMPlenish water bottle

[dehansenching]

Hello, 
This is my first post, so sorry if not in the appropriate category.  Wondered if anyone had heard of the new product, the REMPlenish water bottle which claims to "exercise" the muscles in the esophagus to possibly reduce snoring and apnea events.  I have nothing to do with the product, just popped up on Facebook (as many things do).  Quite pricey, $54.95, but interesting claims.

[Ratchick]

I have to admit, I'm not convinced. I don't see any links to papers showing that it helps with OSA (most of it refers to subjective snoring on the site) and that always makes me suspicious about efficacy. The fact that they don't even compare it with something like CPAP (and just other snoring "cures") makes me think that it's probably not that helpful for those with OSA.

[dehansenching]

Thanks much for the reply.  I suspect as much also.

[srlevine1]

There was a "useability" study that was indeed published as part of the Proceedings of the 2021 Design of Medical Devices Conference (April 12–15, 2021
Minneapolis, MN, USA ISBN: 978-0-7918-8481-2)  https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/B...lume/84812

There does not appear to be any clinical evidence that this device works or that any valid medical claims can be exerted based on this "useability" study. Normally medical devices are tested for efficacy (tests in a controlled environment) and effectiveness (tests in a real-world environment). This sample size is too small to draw conclusory statements and self-reporting is based on subjective impressions, not objective standards. There are no real controls for this experiment or allowances for the degree of OSA or comorbidities.

It appears to be, at least to me, a nice advertising piece that lends an aura of "scientific credibility" to the product -- although it looks like a "puff piece" (pun intended).

The abstract...

There is a clear unmet need to provide alternative, first-line solutions for both obstructive sleep apnea and primary snoring. A novel myofunctional therapy nozzle that delivers therapy through drinking water provides a low risk, low burden, and affordable solution that can easily be administered to primary snorers and obstructive sleep apnea patients to reduce the overall harm from these conditions. A prototype myofunctional therapy nozzle and water bottle were developed and used to conduct a product usability study over the summer of 2020 to assess likeability, one-month adherence, and snoring improvement. 37 participants participated in the study and completed one month of device use. 27 participants were included in the snoring analysis and 35 participants in the tiredness analysis.

The one-month assessment has shown 88% adherence, the overall satisfaction of the product was 80% measured by CSAT, 93% have reported subjective improvements in reducing snoring intensity, occurrence, and/or impact, and 34% of participants reported improvements in tiredness. Bedpartner reported median snoring intensity decreased from somewhat loud to soft or quiet, overall snoring occurrence decreased, and median snoring impact reduced from moderately to a little bit after one month of device use. Preliminary results are promising and warrant further investigation.

Conclusion...

Preliminary data suggests that the novel myofunctional therapy water bottle has promise as an alternative, first-line solution to help with snoring and/or daytime tiredness. Future studies are warranted to better determine effectiveness.

[dehansenching]

Thanks for the reply!  Glad to have this board as a resource!