Originally Published MD&DI February 2008
NEWS TRENDS
Sleep Apnea Therapy Hits the Big Time
International conglomerate Royal Philips Electronics announced in December that it will buy Respironics (Murrysville, PA) for about $5.1 billion.
Respironics is best known for being the market leader in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, which treat obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which patients repeatedly stop breathing during sleep. Between 15 million and 20 million people in the United States suffer from it, and it has been linked to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Respironics is also known for noninvasive ventilation products and has recently introduced technologies to serve the needs of respiratory-impaired patients in the home.
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