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Dr. Alpher's Breakthrough for Sleep Apnea

In response to regulations under consideration by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Medical Advisory Board for truckers with sleep apnea to be treated with either the CPAP machine or surgery—which are both time-prohibitive, invasive and expensive—The American Academy of Craniofacial Pain (AACP) led by Dr. Elliot Alpher, a director and diplomate, assembled these groups to discuss the viability of a simpler, high-tech alternative of compliance chips in oral appliances and home sleep tests. AACP presented an up-to-date scenario of oral appliances as a viable alternative to the CPAP and reintroduced the concept of home testing.

The meeting which was held at in the office of Anthony Foxx (United States Secretary of Transportation), was attended by Larry Minor (Associate Administrator for Policy), Marty Russo (lobbyist and former congressman of Illinois), Shannon Watson (Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Policy), Elaine Papp (Chief, Medical Programs Division), Angela Ward (Occupational Health Nurse, Medical Programs Division) and Lucas Robinson (Intern, Office of Policy).

That team met with four experts including Dr. Elliott Alpher and Dr. Richard Klein who are co-chair of the Sleep Committee of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain (AACP). Dr. Elliott Alpher teaches at George Washington and Georgetown Universities, and has lead the effort to inform government officials with facts regarding OSA and the relation to the transportation industry. Inventor Dr. Rick Bonnato (President of Braebon Corporation), Mr. Mitch Livingston (Vice President of Braebon Corporaton), and Mr. David Gergen (President of Gergen Orthodontic Laboratories) were the other experts present.

Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disordercharacterized by pauses in breathingor instances of shallow or infrequent breathing during sleep—often due to weight issues—and can lead to serious health concerns. Due to the trucker lifestyle, many truckers suffer from sleep apnea. Oral appliances help keep the tongue in place to keep the airways open for easier breathing, better sleeping and are considered an equal alternative to the CPAP for those unable or unwilling to use it.

The group agreed that oral appliances with the new technology of compliance chips—a device that actually indicates that the truckers are wearing their sleep device coupled with home sleep testing—would be a superior and much easier alternative to the CPAP or major surgery. The home sleep test would allow the truckers and their doctors to monitor their sleep right from the cabs of their trucks. The group came to a simple solution for a complex and medically debilitating sleep condition experienced by truckers all over the nation.

Dr. Elliott Alpher, one of Washington D.C.’s most experienced specialists for sleep and jaw disorders, on staff at George Washington University Hospital and Georgetown University Hospital, has been known as a leader in the treatment of sleep disorders and jaw pain for 25 years. Dr. Alpher has pioneered a conservative, non-invasive approach utilizing computerized and verifiable diagnostic methods to treat TMJ, snoring and sleep apnea. This method of treatment has proven to be greatly successful and is highly regarded as the first method of choice by physicians and patients. For more information, visit The Alpher Center.

The Alpher Center is located at 1133 20th Street, NW, Suite 250.