Live from Disruptors: New Paths in Sleep Medicine

In this special live episode recorded at Sleep Medicine Disruptors in Austin, Texas, host Dr. Seema Khosla sits down with two standout innovators whose technologies captured the spirit of disruptive innovation in sleep medicine. Dr. Jason McKeown from Neurovalens and Dr. Onur Kilic from Bairitone Health present groundbreaking approaches to treating insomnia and personalizing obstructive sleep apnea therapy. Dr. McKeown, a neurologist, introduces his FDA-cleared non-pharmacological treatment for insomnia using vestibular nerve stimulation. He explains how the technology works, why stimulating nerves in this manner is safe, and how it differs from vagus nerve devices. The conversation explores the relationship with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), addresses the placebo effect question, and clarifies whether this is a long-term solution or temporary intervention. Dr. McKeown discusses contraindications including pregnancy and Inspire therapy, potential side effects, and ideal patient populations. Dr. Kilic presents his sensor technology that enables non-invasive assessment of airway collapse location and severity—what he calls an "anatomic PSG." This innovation addresses a critical challenge: predicting which patients will respond to specific treatments like oral appliances, Inspire, or PAP therapy based on individual anatomical collapse patterns. Using a cheek-mounted sensor, the device identifies obstruction levels, differentiates between primary and secondary collapse sites, and detects collapse at the velopharyngeal level. The discussion explores whether this represents a scalable alternative to drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), how it integrates with OSA endotyping, and practical applications during titration studies to identify optimal pressure ranges and guide combination therapies. Both innovators emphasize moving beyond one-size-fits-all approaches toward personalized, anatomy-based treatment selection. Whether you're interested in non-pharmacological insomnia treatments, precision medicine approaches to OSA, or the future of sleep diagnostics, this episode showcases innovative thinking driving the next generation of sleep medicine. Join us for this exciting live conversation from Sleep Medicine Disruptors.