Prapela offers a noninvasive stimulation therapy that utilizes precise stochastic inputs to enhance breathing and oxygenation in newborns. This therapy addresses the critical issues of apnea and hypoxemia, providing a safe alternative to pharmacological treatments in hospital settings.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Newborns, particularly those exposed to opioids prenatally or born prematurely, often experience breathing irregularities, hypoxemia, and nervous system dysregulation, leading to complications like apnea of prematurity and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Current non-pharmacological interventions require intensive caregiver interaction, while pharmacological treatments may have long-term developmental consequences.
Solution
Prapela provides a non-invasive stochastic vibrotactile stimulation (SVS) therapy delivered through a hospital bassinet pad to improve breathing and oxygenation in newborns. The Prapela SVS pad utilizes stochastic resonance to enhance the brain's detection of weak signals, promoting healthy rhythmic rates in breathing, heart rate, and body movements. This therapy helps to regulate the nervous system, movement, and sleep patterns in infants experiencing dysregulation due to conditions like NOWS. The Prapela SVS pad is the first medical device with FDA authorization to treat NOWS.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes hospitals and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) caring for newborns with breathing difficulties, apnea of prematurity, hypoxemia, or Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS).
Features
- Stochastic vibrotactile stimulation (SVS) delivered through a hospital bassinet pad
- Non-invasive therapy designed to improve breathing and oxygenation in newborns
- FDA De Novo authorization for the treatment of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS)
- Aims to regulate the nervous system, movement, and sleep patterns
- Designed to resonate with nerve endings and boost the brain's control of the nervous system