Recently, a Japanese-developed robotic pillow that resembles a stuffed polar bear has received attention as a potential treatment for snoring and sleep apnea.
The bear pillow, which you can see in this video, features a sensor that detects the decibel levels of your snoring. When your snoring reaches a preset level, the bear’s paw moves to brush your face, ostensibly stopping your snoring and returning you to restful sleep.
The device also monitors blood-oxygen levels, and if its sensors detect that your levels are too low, the bear’s paw will also be activated.
Although the bear pillow is being touted as a sleep apnea treatment, its effectiveness is questionable at best. The bear pillow, known as Jukusui-kun, which translates as “deep sleep,” does not address the cause of sleep apnea, which is most often an airway obstruction.
In addition to not treating the cause, the bear pillow may also jar an individual back into consciousness. Proven sleep apnea treatments are designed to maintain your airflow while allowing you to sleep through the night.