SnooZeal an over-the-counter smart phone controlled anti-snoring/sleep apnea medical device that its manufacturer states is aimed at reversing the “root cause of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.” The app, used in conjunction with the device, allows users to monitor improvement daily. SnooZeal’s technology sends gentle electronic pulses to the back of the tongue to tone the muscles, which the manufacturer states reverses the over-relaxation of the tongue and stops snoring.

The SnooZeal device is used during the day only and is worn for 20-25 minutes, twice a day over a 6-week period.

Developed by ear-nose-throat consultant Anshul Sama, BMedSci, BM, BS, FRCS, FRCS, senior consultant surgeon at Nottingham University, SnooZeal addresses the root cause of excessive relaxation and loss of tongue muscle tone during sleep. Effectively giving the tongue a “work-out” it uses wireless technology to exercise the tongue to treat the physiological cause of snoring and sleep apnea. The smart phone app monitors the user and controls the progress of the treatment.

“In the US alone, over 90 million Americans snore every night, not only disturbing their sleep but that of their partners too. Noisy snoring strains relationships as it disrupts the partners sleep more than the snorers. It is well known that the long-term effects of sleep deprivation and disturbed sleep can lead to serious health problems,” Sama says in a release.

Since receiving CE approval earlier this month, the team behind SnooZeal are working on European pre-sales with retailers, ENT consultants, medical device distributors, and sleep physicians. SnooZeal has a patent granted and has retained ISO13485. The company states that FDA approval is expected soon, European trial results are equally awaited, and University College Hospital London is commencing trials in January and will be available over the counter in 2017.

“Many nighttime anti-snoring/sleep apnea devices are often abandoned as people find them uncomfortable and ineffective. What makes SnooZeal so innovative and effective is that it addresses the root cause of snoring rather than just temporally relieving it, and because SnooZeal is only used during the day, it means that users can sleep naturally at night,” says Sama.