First CPAP patient (ever)

[D.H.]

In June 1980, the first Sleep Apnea Patient was tested for the first time using an improvised device that became known as the "CPAP" machine. This patient was so ill that it was not clear of he would make it through the night. He refused surgery, but agreed to the experiment. It was a smashing success. I believe that they sent him home with the device.

Does anybody know how long he lived?

[chunkyfrog]

You discovered this fact by reading.
Have you considered reading more?

[D.H.]

You discovered this fact by reading.
Have you considered reading more?

I had known this for a long time. What I was not able to discover was how long this patient lived and if, by chance, he's alive today (I assume it's a man, not a woman). I can understand that he might not want his name or personal information made public, but a simple statement that he's still alive (or year of death) would be nice!

[chunkyfrog]

An interesting thought.
You may have to contact individuals involved in that person's treatment, and interview them;
--like good journalists do. You might get enough information for a good, publishable article.
You could even get paid--you are articulate enough.
The Internet could make your research doable without huge expense.

[D.H.]

An interesting thought.
You may have to contact individuals involved in that person's treatment, and interview them;
--like good journalists do. You might get enough information for a good, publishable article.
You could even get paid--you are articulate enough.
The Internet could make your research doable without huge expense.

Just FYI, I did try to make contact. They're in Australia (and I'm in the U.S.), so distance and time difference is an issue, but thankfully not language.

[chunkyfrog]

Just keep trying. Maybe if you stay up late?

[LSAT]

I think D.H. is board and looking for things to do...He has 3 useless posts today.

[Goofproof]

I think D.H. is board and looking for things to do...He has 3 useless posts today.

His speciality is useless posts, an or answers. Jim

[SleepyEyes21]

In June 1980, t Sleep Apnea Patient was tested for the first time using an improvised device that because known as the "CPAP" machine. This patient was so ill that it was not clear of he would make it through the night. He refused surgery, but agreed to the experiment. It was a smashing success. I believe that they sent him home with the device.

Does anybody know how long he lived?

Hi D.H.,

Let me welcome you to the forum This is interesting information.. I don't know the history of when CPAP machines started being used by consumers; I never thought about that. I think it is wonderful that you enjoy exercising your mind and that you are still interested in the world outside of yourself.

Pay no attention to these longtime members who are giving you very poor and 'tongue-in-cheek' replies- namely, ChunkyFrog, LSAT, and GoofProof (Jim.) I hope you stick around with us for a long while so that you can see that not all of us are as miserable as Jim in replying to people, and that most of us can spell (unlike LSAT). And I do know that you've already discovered that ChunkyFrog is adversarial; it's quite a mixed bag there. Time Out, anyone?

Please let us know what you are finding out as you do more research into the history of CPAP. I would like to know more! Thank you

[JimW159]

In June 1980, t Sleep Apnea Patient was tested for the first time using an improvised device that because known as the "CPAP" machine. This patient was so ill that it was not clear of he would make it through the night. He refused surgery, but agreed to the experiment. It was a smashing success. I believe that they sent him home with the device.

Does anybody know how long he lived?

Thanks for the information. Could you post the source of the information? Not that I doubt it, it's just that give that as a starting point, someone may find the next piece of the puzzle. Following on that, subsequent efforts may flesh out a collaborative look at the genesis and progress of a process significant to us all for one degree or another. Looking at the timeline, the progress made in thirty five years is remarkable in terms of level of adoption, technological advancements as well as the size of the market generated.

[chunkyfrog]

Thirty six years, and he was already at death's door.
It would be amazing if he was still around.

[Goofproof]

Thirty six years, and he was already at death's door.
It would be amazing if he was still around.

He may have found the Holy Grail, a Person who was cured of Sleep Apnea, the one, not the ones in denile. Jim

[Sonnyboy]

In June 1980, t Sleep Apnea Patient was tested for the first time using an improvised device that because known as the "CPAP" machine. This patient was so ill that it was not clear of he would make it through the night. He refused surgery, but agreed to the experiment. It was a smashing success. I believe that they sent him home with the device.

Does anybody know how long he lived?

Thanks for the information. Could you post the source of the information? Not that I doubt it, it's just that give that as a starting point, someone may find the next piece of the puzzle. Following on that, subsequent efforts may flesh out a collaborative look at the genesis and progress of a process significant to us all for one degree or another. Looking at the timeline, the progress made in thirty years is remarkable in terms of level of adoption, technological advancements as well as the size of the market generated.

Don't pay too much attention to Sleepyeyes21, just likes to create trouble.
Your question is a good one and Sullivan is easy to search online.

Date of interview unknown.
Posted on the apneaboard on 2/21/13:

"Colin Sullivan: Well first of all it doesn't cure the apnoea it actually controls it, so it's a physical therapy that stops the key event which is obstruction which leads to all the consequences. By and large if people start to use it and accept it early, many of them will actually continue to use it over years. The first patient I put on died only recently, he died of another disorder, malignancy, and he actually used it every night virtually for 30 years until his death a few months ago and that's representative of a very large core of people."

http://www.resmed.com/in/dam/documents/ ... dica14.pdf

Looks like he is one of the founders of Resmed in Australia.

His article regarding the first 5 patients was published in Lancet and can be accessed online for a fee.

[klv329]

this link has a 1981 lancet article about 5 patients starting at page 44, and other interesting historical information and pictures and diagrams!

http://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents/ ... rigins.pdf

[Uncle_Bob]

Thirty six years, and he was already at death's door.
It would be amazing if he was still around.

He is still around and is currently using just an oral appliance while being married to someone 35 years his junior