Efficacy of Intra-oral Neuromuscular Stimulation Training on Snoring and Mild Sleep Apnoea

The Efficacy of Intra-oral Neuromuscular Stimulation Training on Snoring in Individuals With Primary Snoring or Mild Sleep Apnoea - A Multi Centre Trial

It has been shown that a common cause for snoring and throat obstruction (obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)) is excessive loss of muscle tone in the throat when the investigators go to sleep. This results in the partial collapse of the throat (snoring) or complete collapse (OSA) during sleep.

45% of the male population snore. Sleep apnoea affects 4 to 6% of the population and is associated with increased incidence of raised blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. Although there are several lifestyle practices associated with snoring such as smoking, obesity and drinking, a significant proportion of people may snore despite not being associated with these.

A solution to this issue is to improve the muscle tone of the throat so that it doesn't collapse so easily. Several studies have shown that certain types of throat exercises can help reduce snoring. Further studies have also shown that using electrical stimulation to exercise the tongue muscles has the same effect.

From this, doctors in the United Kingdom (UK) have developed a new type of device, eXciteOSA, that allows a more accurate and comfortable way of delivering this energy to exercise the tongue muscles. The device works by stimulating the tongue muscles during the day so that the tongue is less likely to collapse during sleep. It is a form of "workout" for the tongue and like other physical exercise regimes, it needs to be repeated regularly for a few weeks to take effect.

The aim of this study is to see if the eXciteOSA device is as effective as the previous methods and if it can reduce snoring and improve sleep quality.

This will be achieved by participants using the eXciteOSA once daily for a six week period. A two night sleep study with watchPAT along with a polysomnography will be completed before and after the therapy to compare results. Questionnaires on sleep quality and quality of life will also be completed pre and post therapy.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Snoring
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: eXciteOSA

Detailed Description

Study Design: Phase IV prospective, multi-centre post-market surveillance study.

Each site will follow the pre-determined study protocol, collecting endpoint relevant data which will then be analysed according to the methods outlined in this statistical analysis plan (SAP).

In brief, participants will proceed through three phases of the trial. The pre-trial phase collects data on the pre therapy state of the participant, after which they will enter the therapy phase where they use the device once daily for the required period whilst continuing to record the required data. The participant will stop using the device at the end of this stage and have a follow up phase during which trial indices will continue to be recorded.

The eXciteOSA transoral neurostimulation device is a home use device controlled by a mobile app. Its primary indication is for use in snoring in primary snorers or individuals with mild sleep apnoea.

It is reusable device that produces muscular stimulation via electrodes integrated into a mouthpiece used by the candidate. The product will be supplied be Signifier Medical Technologies ltd. The eXciteOSA device comes in a black box which contains the control unit, mouthpiece, universal serial bus (USB) cable and the instructions for use. Only the supplied products should be used together. Use of the product should be discontinued if it appears damaged in any way. The mouthpiece is connected to the control unit via a USB port and Bluetooth connection is established between the control unit and the app.

The device is to be used whilst awake, once daily for 20 minutes. The app automatically times the session and terminates it once completed. The therapy consists of a series of pulse bursts with the basic characteristic of 6 secs burst and 4 seconds rest. During the 20 mins therapy period the pulse frequency will change every 5 mins in a defined sequence. The intensity of the pulses can be controlled be the participant using the app, from a scale of 1 to 15. Patients should select the highest level they can tolerate without any discomfort.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 200
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Montréal, Canada
    • McGill University Health Centre
  • British Columbia
    • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 1M9
      • Vancouver Hospital
• Germany
  • Berlin, Germany
    • Advanced Sleep Research GmbH
• Netherlands
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands
    • OLVG, Amsterdam
• Spain
  • Pamplona, Spain
    • Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona
  • Valencia, Spain
    • Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset, Valencia

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the trial
• Male or female, aged 18 years or above
• AHI 5-15/hr as confirmed by polysomnography performed for screening purposes
• Snoring complaints for >6 months
• In possession of a smartphone (to use the application)

Exclusion Criteria:

• BMI >35 kg/m2
• AHI >15/h, i.e. evidence of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) from polysomnography
• Symptomatic nasal pathology i.e. septal deviation, nasal polyposis or chronic rhinosinusitis
• Tonsil Hypertrophy (Tonsil size - Grade 3 or greater)
• Tongue or lip piercing
• Pacemaker or implanted medical electrical devices
• Previous oral surgery for snoring
• Relevant facial skeletal abnormalities (i.e. syndromic facial deficiencies, severe micrognathia etc.)
• Pregnancy or planned pregnancy
• Any criteria that, in the opinion of the investigator, would make the participant unsuitable for the study due to inability to complete required study procedures

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Therapy arm; Six week use of eXciteOSA device. Once daily for 20 minutes.	Device: eXciteOSA; eXciteOSA transoral neurostimulation device

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in sleep disordered breathing indices - Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)	To assess the efficacy of daytime trans-oral neuromuscular stimulation training on respiratory indices of Sleep disordered breathing (AHI)	Change between pre-therapy (day 0) and post therapy (day 49)
Change in sleep disordered breathing indices - Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI)	To assess the efficacy of daytime trans-oral neuromuscular stimulation training on respiratory indices of Sleep disordered breathing (ODI)	Change between pre-therapy (day 0) and post therapy (day 49)
Change in Objective snoring pre and post therapy	To assess the efficacy of daytime trans-oral neuromuscular stimulation training on objective snoring in Sleep disordered breathing (% snoring at 40, 45 and 50dB)	Change between pre-therapy (day 0) and post therapy (day 49)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Comparison of sleep quality questionnaires at start and end of therapy - Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)	To assess the efficacy of daytime trans-oral neuromuscular stimulation training on snoring sleep quality.	Change between pre-therapy (day 7) and post therapy (day 49)
Comparison of sleep quality questionnaires at start and end of therapy - Epsworth Sleepiness Score (ESS)	To assess the efficacy of daytime trans-oral neuromuscular stimulation training on snoring sleep quality.	Change between pre-therapy (day 7) and post therapy (day 49)
Comparison of visual analogue scale (VAS) of snoring reported by partner	To assess the efficacy of daytime trans-oral neuromuscular stimulation training on snoring reported by sleep partner	Change between pre-therapy (day 7) and post therapy (day 49)
Comparison of quality of life questionnaires at start and end of therapy - EQ-5D-5L	To assess the efficacy of daytime trans-oral neuromuscular stimulation training on quality of life.	Change between pre-therapy (day 7) and post therapy (day 49)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Signifier Medical Technologies
• Investigators: Study Director: Yasser Zayni, Signifier Medical Technologies

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 11, 2020
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 30, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): September 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 13, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): May 19, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 2, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 1, 2022
• Last Verified: December 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Respiratory Sounds; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Apnea; Snoring
• Other Study ID Numbers: eXciteOSA Multicentre

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No