Philips Respironics, Circadiance target pediatric market

MURRYSVILLE and TURTLE CREEK, Pa. - Two players have launched new pediatric nasal masks, a market that is currently under-served but growing rapidly with the rising awareness of obstructive sleep apnea and other breathing difficulties in very young children.

Philips Respironics and Circadiance, which both already offer lines of nasal masks for older youth and adults, are now introducing pediatric versions for the smallest of patients.

Philips launched the Wisp Pediatric Nasal Mask, for infants 22 pounds and up to children age 7, on June 13. With its giraffe-fabric print, accompanying stuffed animal and animated video, the company is hoping the mask will engage young children in their own therapy, helping smooth the transition from hospital to home care.

The Wisp Pediatric mask also features an “infant-centric” design and Leak Correction Dial that allows caregivers to fix small leaks without waking the child.

Circadiance recently launched the SleepWeaver Advance Pediatric Soft Cloth CPAP Mask in the U.S., after launching the product successfully in Europe a few months ago. The smaller-sized Advance is a model designed for smaller facial features and is not as big as the company's original one-size-fits-most device.

While masks designed for older youth and teenagers might be adjusted to fit smaller faces, they don't work as well on infants and very young children. The pediatric masks are smaller in all dimensions and the ratio of length to height has been adjusted, says Philips Chief Medical Liaison Teofilo Lee-Chiong, MD.

“You don't want pressure on a face that is still developing,” he said.

Lee-Chiong believes that educating caregivers on how to use the mask is a big part of children adhering to therapy, so the Wisp mask comes with resources designed specifically for them.

Circadiance Founder and CEO David Groll says making the masks approachable for children and their caregivers is important to therapy.

“If someone approaches them with a medical-looking device and tells them to put it on, they will be afraid,” he explained. “Then the child won't wear it.”