Review of Airing Micro-CPAP and Similar Devices

Can these small machines replace your CPAP?

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are a common treatment for sleep apnea, but in recent years, the proposed Airing micro-CPAP device aims to improve such treatment. This device would supposedly eliminate the problems associated with traditional CPAP machines, such as wearing a mask or dealing with cords or hoses.

There is currently no FDA-approved micro-CPAP device. However, some devices are sold online claiming to have the benefits associated with the Airing machine. Reviews of Airing-inspired Micro-CPAP devices have been mostly negative. There is no evidence that these work at all.

Learn about the potential promise of this technology and the many lingering questions about its viability as a new treatment option.

Invented by Stephen A. Marsh, the Airing Micro-CPAP is proffered as an alternative to standard CPAP therapy. Unlike traditional CPAP machines, the Airing is designed to be:

It has no described role in treating central sleep apnea, complex sleep apnea, or Cheyne-Stokes respiration.

The inventor of Airing has applied the technology of micro-blowers to its design. These are typically used for heat regulation to prevent overheating of computer chips. By putting hundreds of these micro-blowers in parallel within a small casing, sufficient filtered airflow could be generated that may treat obstructive sleep apnea when delivered into the airway via nasal plugs.

The device is anticipated to be small, measuring just 2 inches in length, 1.5 inches in width, and 1 inch in height. It may weight as little as 0.9 ounces. With its internal battery, it is stated to have a run time of more than eight hours.

Though there is a great deal of interest and media coverage about the Airing device, it is in the preliminary stages of development. The company’s information suggests that they are still actively developing a working prototype. This suggests that beyond the theory and the photography mock-ups, such a working prototype does not yet exist. It may encounter significant problems as the product is developed.

The shell of the device would potentially get awfully crowded with needed additions.​

According to a timeline provided by the company in 2017, the Airing Micro-CPAP will not be available for at least two years. Realistically, this is likely an optimistic prediction for a number of reasons. After a successful funding stage, raising more than $1 million and continuing to raise money from numerous hopeful individuals, the work now begins.

A functional prototype, not just an attractive photo based on a theory, must be created. Some of the issues described above could delay this even longer. In order to be available to the public, the Airing Micro-CPAP must go through FDA clearance and approval. It was hoped that this could be done based on existing technology and be approved by January 2017, yet this has not occurred to date. This could be a lengthy process, especially if serious questions need to be addressed and clinical research trials are required. The Airing will require a healthcare provider's prescription, just like existing treatments for sleep apnea.

As of October 2018, the company announced that it had secured additional funding to add engineers to its team and new equipment, like a 3D laser scanning microscope for surface roughness assessments of materials. They continue to have difficulty in developing the micro-blower technology but remain hopeful. The year prior, they announced that several other parts of the device were prototyped and working.

Airing's blog has not provided any updates since September 2020.

Ultimately, who will pay for these devices? This requires getting insurance companies on board with the technology. As has been demonstrated with other recent products, including Provent and Winx, this can be a very tough road indeed. At an anticipated cost of $3 per nightly use, it is proposed that it will cost the user 60 cents after 80% insurance coverage for durable medical equipment (though this is not “durable” and may not qualify). The Airing could cost the average person from $200 to more than $1000 per year, depending on actual insurance reimbursement and product costs. Compared to existing CPAP therapy, it’s not cheap.

The company has repeatedly missed development milestones and expected ship dates. Time will tell whether it proves to be possible for this new technology to become the effective treatment that it promises to be. In the meanwhile, we wait for optimized design, FDA approval, and the development of a production process and reimbursement scheme that will likely extend for years.

Overall, reviews of the Airing-inspired Micro-CPAP devices have been mostly negative. While many of these products on the market claim to help those with sleep apnea, they are primarily anti-snoring devices. That said, thorough reviews for these products are limited—with many people claiming the devices simply don't work.

Reviewers commonly stated that the products failed to:

That said, it is unclear if the Airing micro-CPAP device will be:

There are a number of treatment options for sleep apnea, including:

Airing Micro-CPAP is a product in development that is hoped to be an alternative to the traditional CPAP. The small device hopes to utilize micro-blowers, similar to those used for computer cooling, to provide sufficient airflow to treat sleep apnea via nasal plugs. This technology is likely years away from FDA approval. Individuals are discouraged from supporting their ongoing fundraising efforts. If you have any questions regarding the treatment of sleep apnea or alternatives to the CPAP, talk to your healthcare provider or a sleep specialist.

Airing. The world’s first maskless, hoseless, cordless, micro-CPAP device.

Marsh S. Technical Update October 2018. Airing. October 24, 2018.

A very important technical update. Airing. October 26, 2017.

Sleep Foundation. What are micro CPAP devices and how do they work?

Nasca T. CPAP. American Sleep Apnea Association.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Sleep Apnea Treatment.

"Airing Revolutionary Micro-CPAP Airing." Airing.

By Brandon Peters, MDDr. Peters is a board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine specialist and is a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.