Why Traditional Oxygen Equipment Can Disrupt Sleep
Many people with Down syndrome suffer from a variety of sleeping disorders. Some of these disorders, such as sleep apnea, can disturb the lungs and aggravate - or cause - other health problems.
In some cases, patients refuse to wear their sleep oxygen therapy equipment. Many times, the equipment is as simple as a nasal cannula, a tube placed in the patient’s nostrils to increase airflow. This tubing can be uncomfortable, leading kids and adults to inadvertently remove it while sleeping.
A Better Sleep Option for Side and Stomach Sleepers
Aaron Esplin, a sophomore in biomedical engineering at the U, first learned about the issue from a friend whose child has Down syndrome, a problem staying asleep at night, and a nasal cannula to increase oxygen concentration. As the restless nights worsened due to the boy waking up multiple times through each night, the family was running out of options.
Browse oxygen therapy collection for side-sleeper friendly alternatives.
The Start of a New Kind of Oxygen Pillow
Esplin and his brother, a recent graduate from the U’s biomedical engineering program, decided to team up on an idea: a gel memory foam pillow that facilitates oxygen distribution to the patient without them being aware that they are receiving treatment.
“We studied the sleeping environment and started prototyping,” he said. “We needed to create a design that could optimize oxygen concentration around the head for patients that refuse to wear a nasal cannula.”
Designed for Comfort, Backed by Real Sleep Stories
After some trial and error, the Esplin brothers achieved the design they were looking for, and their friend’s child sleeps on a pillow that looks like a normal pillow but also receives his oxygen to get a good night’s sleep.
Since their first successful design, the brothers have produced three more pillows. Now, the pillow is patent-pending, with more iterations in the production pipeline.
by
JACQUELINE MUMFORD
Shop the Oxyllow System: Custom Pillow Innovation for Oxygen Therapy
The Oxyllow System™ builds on that original idea—offering a custom pillow designed to gently deliver oxygen without wearables. It’s an ideal solution for side and stomach sleepers who want a more peaceful night without tubes or straps. Whether for a child, an adult, or a caregiver searching for something easier, this system fits into everyday life with comfort and care.