NPA-OSA device tolerability, usability, and acclimation in adults with obstructive sleep apnea

NPA-OSA Device Tolerability, Usability and Acclimation Clinical Study in Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Resistant Adult OSA Patients

NA · University of Michigan · NCT06677151

This pilot will test whether a small nasopharyngeal airway (NPA-OSA) device can reduce apneas and be tolerated by adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who are not using CPAP.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment20 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Michigan (other)
Locations2 sites (Ann Arbor, Michigan and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06677151 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot interventional study asks adults with moderate-to-severe OSA to use a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA-OSA) device over a 30-day period to measure tolerability, usability, acclimation, and changes in apnea frequency. Eligible participants must have OSA from upper airway obstruction, be CPAP non-compliant or seeking an alternative, and be able to self-insert and remove the device. Outcomes include apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) changes, device tolerability, and user-reported usability, with exclusions for conditions that increase risk such as supraglottic collapse, severe nasal disease, bleeding disorders, pregnancy, active COVID-19, need for anticoagulation, or significant CO2 retention. The trial is conducted through Michigan Medicine with in-person visits for fitting and follow-up.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults with confirmed moderate-to-severe OSA (AHI ≥15) caused by upper airway obstruction who are CPAP non-compliant or seeking an alternative and who can self-insert the device and complete a 30-day protocol.

Not a fit: Patients with supraglottic airway collapse, distal airway stenosis, tracheobronchomalacia, severe nasal allergies or bleeding disorders, those on anticoagulation, pregnant people, active COVID-19 infection, or significant CO2 retention are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this device could provide a simple, lower-burden alternative to CPAP that reduces apnea events for some patients.

How similar studies have performed: Nasopharyngeal airway use for OSA is relatively novel with limited published data and no large randomized trials showing clear, generalizable benefit.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Capacity and willingness to sign consent
* Patient willingness to commit to and complete study over a 30-day time period
* Confirmed diagnosis of moderate to severe OSA (AHI \>= 15)
* OSA caused by upper airway obstruction
* CPAP non-compliant where CPAP compliance is defined as using CPAP for at least 4 hours a night for at least 70% of nights or interest in an alternative sleep apnea therapy
* Adequate manual dexterity to demonstrate ability to self-insert and remove device

Exclusion Criteria:

* Within 3 months of initiating CPAP use, and actively using CPAP
* Supraglottic airway collapse
* Distal airway stenosis
* Tracheobronchomalacia
* Currently pregnant
* Active COVID-19 infection
* Need for anticoagulative therapy
* Severe nasal allergies
* Bleeding disorder
* More than mild elevation of End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) or total carbon dioxide (TCO2) values \>60 mmHg for \>10% of sleep time
* Restrictive thoracic disorders
* Silicone, lidocaine, neosynephrine allergy
* Recurrent epistaxis
* Uncontrolled or serious illness, included but not limited to: severe breathing disorders including hypercapnic respiratory failure, respiratory muscle weakness, bullous lung disease (as seen in some types of emphysema), bypassed upper airway, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, etc.; severe heart disease (including heart failure); or pathologically low blood pressure

Where this trial is running

Ann Arbor, Michigan and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Sleep Apnea, Obstructive, nasopharyngeal

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.