How many CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) units were sold in
the US last year?

Background: CPAP is the predominant treatment modality for sleep apnea
syndrom.  CPAP is administered by a flow generating unit that is
connected to a nasal mask.  CPAP can also be called BiPAP (for
Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure)  Major manufactures of CPAP are
Resmed, Respironics, Fisher & Paykel, and Puritan Bennet/Mallinkrodt

Have not been able to locate direct market data. However in September,
2000 Vital Signs, Inc. filed a press release containing some market
data.

TOTOWA, N.J., September 6, 2000 -- VITAL SIGNS, INC. (NASDAQ: VITL)
announced today the receipt of a 510(k) clearance by the FDA to market
the Breas CPAP device for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While Vital
Signs already enjoys number one market share for critical care/face
mask CPAP in U.S. hospitals, the new clearance allows participation in
the nasal CPAP market to treat OSA in the home. According to the
Association of Professional Sleep Societies (APSS), over 12 million
Americans suffer from OSA, 10 million of whom remain undiagnosed. The
sleep therapy market is estimated to be growing at over 20% a year, as
more patients continue to be diagnosed.

The release also includes market projections for selected products,
including:
PV10 CPAP Device
1st Quarter FY 2001 (global)
$250 million

http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:M1V8EloiwP8C:www.vital-signs.com/VSIhome.nsf/1da6452df484b72085256403007e978d/4cc60bac41bc3919852569590049f80e%3FOpenDocument+cpap+market&hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8

A similar release from market leader Viasys includes this data:


Conshohocken, Pa. May 28, 2002 - VIASYS Healthcare Inc.'s (NYSE: VAS) 
"According to published statistics OSA affects approximately 12
million individuals in the U.S. alone with more than 10 million of
those undiagnosed. The sleep apnea treatment market is growing at a
rate of 20% per year.

VIASYS Healthcare Inc. has the #1 global market share in the fields of
respiratory and neuro diagnostics and a leading share of the market in
sleep diagnostics."

Theta Reports is a commercial organization that sells market reports.
Their report on Home Healthcare includes data on the cpap market
http://www.thetareports.com/tocs/730tc.html

Search terms: cpap market, cpap market statistics,cpap sales
statistics

This is the standard info on Sleep Apnea prevalence.  Total CPAP
devices sold is a little more tricky to find.