Skip to content

Pilot Study of Negative Pressure Neck Therapy (NPNT)

A Proof-of-concept Pilot Study to Determine the Safety and Effectiveness of the Negative Pressure Neck Therapy (NPNT) in Healthy Participants.

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07301567
Enrollment
10
Registered
2025-12-24
Start date
2026-01-31
Completion date
2026-12-31
Last updated
2025-12-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Obstructive Apnea, Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Obstructive, Sleep Disorder (Disorder)

Keywords

sleep apnea, Obstructive sleep apnea, sleep disordered breathing

Brief summary

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious, chronic sleep-related breathing disease in which the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, leading to intermittent oxygen deprivation. This pilot study will evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Negative Pressure Neck Therapy (NPNT) in up to 10 healthy participants. Participants will undergo 2 separate home sleep apnea tests (HSAT) approximately 1 week apart and will be randomly assigned to wear the NPNT device at either night 1 or night 2 of HSAT. Participation will include 5 on-site visits and 1 phone call over approximately 1 month.

Detailed description

Purpose: To determine the safety and efficacy of the Negative Pressure Neck Therapy (NPNT) in Healthy Participants. Negative pressure neck therapy (NPNT) uses a self-contained, non-invasive, external device to apply a gentle, outward pulling effect around the neck's surface. Hypothesis: Given the exploratory nature and small sample size no formal hypothesis testing will be conducted Objectives: Primary Objective: 1\. To determine if NPNT can effectively reduce the number of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) events (sleep disorder breathing events) in healthy participants. Secondary Objectives: 1. To determine the tolerability of the NPNT 2. To determine the duration of time required for acclimating to the device 3. To determine the NPNT parameters (optimal device fit) based on participant characteristics. 4. To collect feedback from participants regarding the device use, comfort, fit, function, usability, etc. Safety and Efficacy Objectives: 1. To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of NPNT 2. To assess potential side effects of NPNT.

Interventions

DEVICENegative Pressure Neck Therapy (NPNT)

Negative pressure neck therapy (NPNT) is a self-contained, non-invasive, soft, flexible, external neck collar

Sponsors

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
CollaboratorOTHER
University of British Columbia
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
DEVICE_FEASIBILITY
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Body mass index ≤42 kg/m2 * Able to speak, read, and write English

Exclusion criteria

* Known sleep disorder such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, idiopathic hypersomnolence or chronic insomnia * No previous surgery, injury, or radiation to the neck * Excessive hair or beard in the area of the neck, and/or unwillingness to shave that area for the duration of this study * Inflammatory skin condition, such as acne or eczema in the neck area * Known silicone allergy * Night shift work because of irregular sleep-wake cycles * Excessive alcohol intake, defined as that leading to interference with work, home life, or the ability to optimally perform normal everyday duties and tasks * Use of illicit drugs currently or within the past 5 years * Serious pulmonary disease * Use of home oxygen or oxygen saturation \<94% * Cancer that has been in remission for less than one year * Previous surgery for peripheral arterial disease

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Comparison of the number of sleep-disordered breathing events between intervention and control nights as assessed by Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT).1 nightChange between control night and intervention night on mean AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index) scores. A positive treatment effect will be attributed to the NPNT device if the difference between the mean AHI score on intervention night is less than the mean AHI score on control night. A score of less than 0 is positive. Measurement Tool: HSAT (Home Sleep Apnea Test) Unit of Measure: AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index) scores

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Tolerability of NPNT device based on duration of time (hours) worn during NPNT intervention night as assessed by Participant Report and Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT)1 nightWear time (hours) of NPNT device will be assessed for each participant during the NPNT intervention night, after 7 day NPNT acclimatization period. Mean, median, range of tolerability of scores will be reported. Measurement Tool: Participant Reported and HSAT (Home Sleep Apnea Test) Unit of Measure: hours
Participant Characteristics will be assessed compared to NPNT device fit/shape based on participant response on the Device Evaluation Questionnaire using Likert scores.1 nightDescriptive participant traits (age, BMI, craniofacial markers, etc.) will plotted against NPNT device fit/shape Likert scores from the Device Evaluation Questionnaire above and below a score of 3. For example, fit/shape Likert score rating by BMI category. Measurement Tool: Device Evaluation Questionnaire and Participant demographics Unit of Measure: Likert Score
Participant reported device tolerability will be assessed using the Device Evaluation Questionnaire Likert scale responses.1 nightProportion of participants rating NPNT device as tolerable (≥3 on Likert scale) during NPNT intervention night, after 7 day acclimatization period. Measurement Tool: Device Evaluation Questionnaire Unit of Measure: Likert scale
Participant Feedback on NPNT device comfort, usability and function based on the Device Evaluation Questionnaire using a Likert scale1 nightProportion of participants rating device comfort, usability and function as ≥3 on Likert scale. Mean, median, range of device comfort, usability and function scores, including a breakdown by demographic/ BMI group will be assessed after NPNT intervention night and after 7 day acclimatation period. Measurement Tool: Device Evaluation Questionnaire Unit of Measure: Likert scale
Participant Feedback on NPNT device based on qualitative data (open comments) from the Device Evaluation Questionnaire after the NPNT device intervention night.1 nightQualitative data will be summarized using simple thematic coding based on participant open comment section of the Device Evaluation Questionnaire after the NPNT device intervention night, after 7 day acclimatization period. Measurement Tool: Device Evaluation Questionnaire Unit of Measure: Qualitative data (open comments)
Participant Reported Feedback on shape and fit of NPNT device as assessed by the Device Evaluation Questionnaire using a Likert Scale (≥3 on Likert scale)1 nightProportion of participants rating device as Moderate/good/excellent (e.g., ≥3 on Likert scale). Mean, median, range of shape/fit scores, including a breakdown by demographic/ BMI group will be assessed after NPNT intervention night and 7 day acclimatation period. Measurement Tool: Device Evaluation Questionnaire Unit of Measure: Likert scale

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Adverse Events based on Device Evaluation Questionnaire responses to adverse device effects after NPNT intervention night and 7 night acclimatization period.8 nightsDevice specific adverse events (skin irritation, redness or rash, discomfort or pain, swelling, other) will be assessed using a scale of 1 to 5 (not at all, mild, moderate, severe, very severe) after the NPNT intervention night and 7 night acclimatization period. Measurement Tool: Device Evaluation Questionnaire Unit of Measure: Scale of 1-5 (1-not at all, 2-mild, 3-moderate, 4-severe, 5-very severe)

Countries

Canada

Contacts

Primary ContactResearch Manager
Shelley.Abercromby@vch.ca6048754111

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026