[Continuous positive pressure in the treatment of sleep apnea syndromes]

Continuous positive airway pressure as a long-term home treatment for sleep apnea syndromes would seem to present irreconcilable requirements; it must be simple and comfortable to use during sleep and it must be relatively inexpensive. The device described in this paper includes a compressor, an individually molded nose-mask and a water column. Improvements are still in progress, but, as it stands, it enables sleep apnea patients to be successfully treated at home.