ResMed
About ResMed
ResMed is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of
products for the screening, treatment and long-term management
of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and other respiratory disorders.
ResMed operates in over 65 countries via 16 direct offices and
a network of distributors with extensive knowledge and experience
of local markets.
The ResMed Story
When ResMed was formed in 1989, its primary purpose was to commercialize
a device for treating obstructive
sleep apnea (OSA), a major subset of SDB. Developed in 1981
by Professor Colin Sullivan and colleagues at the University
of Sydney, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
provided the first successful noninvasive treatment of OSA.
Since 1989, ResMed has maintained its focus on SDB, which is
gaining greater public and physician awareness. Operations have
grown dramatically through the introduction of a number of highly
innovative product lines.
The Market
SDB affects around 20% of the adult population¹, making
it as widespread as diabetes or asthma. However, awareness is
low and we believe that about 90% of people who have OSA remain
undiagnosed and untreated. Along with an increasing understanding
of the morbidity and mortality caused by SDB, this discrepancy
has created one of the fastest growing segments of the respiratory
industry.
Increasing Awareness
ResMed is committed to increasing education and awareness of
the serious health consequences of untreated SDB among both
the general public and physicians. Our extensive geographical
coverage allows us to work progressively towards this awareness.
They have established ResMed Foundations in both Australia and
the United States and are funding a public relations program
(together with other industry participants) in several countries
to publicize the dangers of undiagnosed SDB.
Understanding SDB
The term “sleep-disordered breathing” includes a
spectrum of respiratory disorders ranging in severity from snoring
to OSA. OSA occurs when
the airway temporarily collapses during sleep, preventing or
restricting breathing for up to ten seconds or more. Such events
can occur several hundred times a night severely disrupting
sleep.
Untreated OSA can severely affect quality of life,
health and mortality. Clinical research shows that it is linked
strongly to a range of serious, even life-threatening, chronic
diseases such as stroke, heart failure, hypertension, diabetes,
obesity and coronary heart disease. Other links include preeclampsia
in pregnant women, attention deficit disorder in children and
increased traffic and workplace accidents.
The Treatment
Widely accepted across the globe, positive airway pressure treatment
is a highly effective, proven and popular way to treat OSA.
This treatment involves wearing a mask or nasal pillows system
connected to a small portable airflow generator that delivers
air at positive pressure. The air pressure acts like an “air
splint” to keep the airway open.
Continuing Research and Product Development
ResMed continues to invest approximately 6% of revenues in research
and product development—that's a growing dollar figure
every year, demonstrating their commitment to continuing global
leadership in sleep medicine based on our innovative technologies.
ResMed’s team is focused on developing innovative therapies
that increase patient comfort and convenience while improving
health. As of December 2005 they had 582 patents and 401 design
registrations, granted or pending worldwide.
ResMed Recognized
In 2005 they made the BusinessWeek list of 100 Hot Growth Companies
for the sixth time in seven years. They were also awarded Manufacturer
of the Year for 2006 by the UK Association for Respiratory Technology
& Physiology (ARTP) and, in Australia, won the Large Advanced
Manufacturer Category of the 2005 Premier’s NSW Exporter
of the Year Award. In addition, ResMed CEO Dr Peter Farrell
was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2005
US national award winner in the Health Sciences Category.
The ResMed Team
Business success can be said to depend upon three key fundamentals—people,
products and profits—and that without a good team the
other two just aren’t possible. ResMed has a team of over
2000 people based around the globe. Everyone in our team is
working to help the millions of people suffering from SDB and
other respiratory disorders, to educate the medical community
and public about the dangers of untreated SDB, to strengthen
our global operations and to deliver the very best products
to our SDB patients.
In addition, they have a senior management team
with extensive experience in the SDB field and the medical device
industry in general. They also leverage the knowledge and expertise
of their Medical Advisory Board, which consists of leading SDB
experts.
Information obtained from the
ResMed Official website
CPAP Supplies Plus/Direct Home Page
