Apnex Medical raises $16.1M for sleep-apnea devices

Apnex Medical, a Minneapolis maker of implants for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, raised $16.1 million in a first round of funding. Participants included Domain Associates, New Enterprise Associates, Polaris Ventures Partners and Apnex Chairman Michael Berman.

VentureWire reports that Apnex is using “neurostimulation” technology, presumably involving timed electrical pulses to open upper-throat muscles that can close during sleep and choke off the airway, interrupting breathing for a period of up to 10 seconds — an episode known as an apnea. A number of neuromodulation companies have recently received funding, including NeuroVista, a Seattle epilepsy-treatment company, and CVRx, another Minneapolis firm with a hypertension-regulation device.

The company’s announcement is here.