Human Design Medical Debuts “Lighter, Smaller, Quieter” CPAP Machine

Human Design Medical Thursday launched its “lighter, smaller, quieter” Z1 continuous positive airway pressure device for sleep apnea patients looking for more mobile nighttime breathing support.

Z1 “is the smallest machine on the market,” says HDM spokesman Steve Moore. At 6.5” x 3.3” and just 10 ounces, the compact system fits in the palm of the hand and operates at 26 decibels. Older CPAP machines, by comparison, tend to be about 6” x 9” or larger, weigh between two and four pounds and produces between 28 and 30 decibels.

Moore also stressed the device’s versatility. It can either be purchased with the PowerShell — a separate 14.4v lithium ion battery pack that attaches to the device — or can be plugged into universal power from a wall outlet. This allows patients to use the device anywhere, regardless of access to a power source. The device also works with all previous models of CPAP masks, Moore said.

The Z1 is available through four different online retailers for between $799 and $1,049. In the future, the company will likely make the device more widely available, Moore said. HDM also plans to utilize the device’s Bluetooth capability with an app that allows patients to track their breathing patterns and usage information.

Z1 won 510(k) clearance from the FDA in February. Plans are afoot to get clearance outside the U.S. as well. — Lena Freund

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