ATLANTA – Somnetics International, Plastiflex Healthcare, and Apnea Sciences are just a few of the sleep-focused companies heading to Medtrade, the largest trade show in the United States focused exclusively on the home medical equipment (HME) market.
While the large sleep-related corporations, such as Philips Respironics, ResMed, and Fisher & Paykel will also be there in force, these smaller manufacturers, such as Circadiance (Booth #2034), makers of the SleepWeaver soft cloth nasal CPAP mask, are making an impact.
“The presence of other small- and mid-size companies shows that the sleep market is big enough to sustain a lot of healthy competition,” said Kevin Gaffney, group show director, Medtrade, in an October 1 issue of Medtrade Monday, a weekly e-newsletter from Nielsen Expositions. “And that is reflected on the Expo floor this year.”
According to Medtrade Monday, Somnetics International Inc, makers of The Transcend Sleep Apnea Therapy System, made waves earlier this year when they earned the Provider’s Choice Award at Medtrade Spring. Attendees in Las Vegas (the locale for Medtrade Spring) liked the Minnesota-based company’s small CPAP device and solar technology for charging batteries.
Weighing in under one pound, the Transcend Portable Solar Charger can be rolled up and easily stored. “We are humbled and honored for the recognition we received with the Medtrade Provider’s Choice Award,” said Clarence Johnson, president, Somnetics. “This is the third prestigious award we’ve received in 6 months for product innovation and addressing the unmet needs of the CPAP market.”
Allison Bordewick, marketing manager, Somnetics (Booth #829 at Medtrade), is hoping to again earn some awards when the company unveils four new products at Medtrade, which takes place Oct 16-18. “They will be completely new to the market,” she says. “We are not trying to go head to head with the big corporations. We are trying to capitalize on being the first to the market with real innovations.”
As more therapy options gain acceptance, companies such as Apnea Sciences (Booth #676 at Medtrade) are challenging the CPAP gold standard with oral appliances. As makers of the ApneaRx, officials at Apnea Sciences are attempting to occupy the middle ground of “transition” boil-and-bite oral appliances, devices designed to help treat, and determine, which patients may be responders—or non-responders—for more expensive custom oral appliance therapy.
Sleep-related Medtrade educational sessions will convey clinical and business knowledge via the following events:
Mon, Oct 15, 2012 – 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM – Home Sleep Testing: Are You In or Out?
Speakers: Kelly J Riley, National Director of the Respiratory Network, MEDGroup
Track: Sleep/Oxygen & Respiratory; Location: B312
Mon, Oct 15, 2012 – 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM – Technology In a Patient-Centered Management Approach
Speakers: Jeff Marshall, Clinical Marketing Specialist, Philips Respironics
Tony Ross, Marketing Manager, Philips Respironics
Track: Sleep/Oxygen & Respiratory; Location: B314
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 – 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM – A Partnership of Patient Compliance and Profitability
Speakers: Beth Richey, Clinical Manager East, ResMed
Track: Sleep/Oxygen & Respiratory; Location: B301
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 – 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM – Maintaining Costs and Growing Business by Choosing the Right Mask for Your OSA Patients
Speakers: Cheryl Needham, Clinical Marketing Manager, Philips Respironics
Track: Sleep/Oxygen & Respiratory; Location: B304