Season 7 | Episode 23
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 concentric 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.
Dr. Jason McKeown, MD PhD
Dr. Jason McKeown, MD PhD is a UK-trained medical doctor who specialises in non-invasive neurostimulation. Through his work in the field of neuroscience and interest in advanced technology, he believes there is a better way to treat diseases affecting the lives of people worldwide. His dedication to advancing medical technology, combined with his deep understanding of mental health disorders has positioned him as a trailblazer in the field.
After years of research and development, Dr. McKeown led the Neurovalens team through a successful study into the effectiveness of the Modius Sleep device on the treatment of chronic insomnia, resulting in Medical Device Regulatory Approval via FDA 510(k) clearance in October 2023. In March 2024, Neurovalens also received FDA clearance for Modius Calm, a treatment for anxiety.
Dr. McKeown holds academic appointments in theDepartment of Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University. Dr. McKeown is a member of the General Medical Council and has worked within the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. Dr McKeown is also a member of the Society for Neuroscience, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, the Association of British Neurologists, the Royal College of Physicians and The Society for Neuroscience.
Onur Kilic
Onur Kilic is the co-founder and CTO of Bairitone Health, a Houston-based company developing AI-guided tools to personalize therapy for sleep apnea. His PhD research at Stanford led to record-setting defense technologies featured in Popular Science. At Johns Hopkins Medical School, he developed biomedical innovations that appeared on the cover of Nature Biomedical Engineering. A serial inventor with over 70 issued patents, he previously co-founded Sidera Medicine, an oncology spin-out from Mayo Clinic and Yale.
