Zeez Research and Technology

We are running a pilot study with people who use a CPAP to treat sleep apnoea but still sleep poorly. We are really excited. CPAP devices ensure that patients can breathe without waking but they don't help with insomnia, and compliance is patchy - the devices can be uncomfortable and are often removed during the night. The Zeez Sleep Pebble can't help people with untreated sleep apnoea - our need to breathe overrides our need to sleep - but it has helped people with treated sleep apnoea. The trial will test whether the combination of CPAP + Zeez Sleep Pebble reduces insomnia, and increases CPAP compliance.

Coventry University did a pilot studyl with real and dummy Pebbles with assessment of sleep quality using sleep mats. The results were equivocal - no strong differences, and one participant’s sleep worsened. It completely shocked us, since all of our experience showed strong results. We learnt the participants were asked "to turn any off any electrical devices that may interfere with the sleep mat measurement" during their assessment with sleep mats  but were not told to switch off their devices whilst using the Zeez. This can show nothing: the Zeez is so low power that (for most people) it cannot have the desired effect if there is electrical interference from a nearby phones or a router. If devices are left on, Zeez signals may be distorted and have no effect, or an unwanted effect.

The  lead researcher commented  

“..you are getting very good results with the Zeez, which is great, however this may be because as well as being given the device the individuals are also following the instructions on the leaflet regarding wifi and electrics etc.  These measures themselves are generally known to help sleep so your results may be due to a combination of electrics, phone AND the Zeez.  The combination of all measures together may be having a larger impact.”

She was absolutely correct, but if we had known that our instructions for use would not be followed, we would not have done the trial. The University told me that the pooled data masked a wide range of responses, and that within the data there was very interesting individual data – both positive and negative. They couldn't pass this over because the ethics committee approval had not been obtained on that basis. 

With Coventry's support, we tried to invite trial participants to use the Zeez as it is intended to be used. Unfortunately, the student participants had either left the University, or were pregnant. 

Camille Carroll, Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at Plymouth oversaw a case series study of the Zeez Sleep Pebble with people with Parkinson’s-related sleep disorders. This was not powered for efficacy.

The abstract of the Plymouth case series with 13 patients concluded.

“Almost 50% of patients experienced significant improvement in PDSS-2 (Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale) scores... The device offers a potential alternative to medication for sleep disturbance in PD, and merits further evaluation. Participants generally found the device easy to use. Two of the non-responders also reported subjective improvement, but admitted to only intermittent use of the device.” 

All of the testers wanted to keep their devices. Professor Carroll wished to do a larger efficacy trial with people with Parkinson’s but had no staff available to apply for funding.

In the first years after conceiving and developing the Zeez Sleep Pebble we tried hard to find funding and independent trials. Most people either thought we were mad, or wanted to offer us early stage research funds when already had an effective product.

In 2016, Professor Kevin Morgan, founder of the Clinical Sleep Research Unit at Loughborough University asked Anna “Why subject yourself to the tyranny of testing, if you don’t need to?”.  This was a breakthrough moment.  We stopped struggling to find money, got on with the business of surviving and asked our testers to complete standard before and after sleep questionnaires.

We would still love to do a good sized afficacy trial and hope to raise funds for thsi once our Indian pilot study has been published.

In 2018, London hosted a world first sleep show, and we exhibited, even though our device was far from shop ready. Press coverage about us gave us enough sales to pursue manufacture. We sold and continue to sell the Zeez Sleep Pebble on sale or return. Around 4,000 people have now experienced the Zeez Sleep Pebble, some for almost a decade. They are a wonderful mix, aged 9 to 91. The reasons for their poor sleep are many and various. Many have been chronic long term poor sleepers who had “tried everything”. See our reviews. We also worked with charities to collect anecdotal reports of Zeez efficacy from users with arthritis and dementia.

We would love to hear from researchers who may be interested in trialling the Zeez Sleep Pebble, and groups or charities that are interested in collecting anecdotal information.

We would like more data from users, especially from people with conditions that are exacerbated by poor sleep. This may help us to improve what we offer.  We have many users with chronic fatigue syndrome, thyroid conditions, mental health issues, fibromyalgia, arthritis and other conditions for which good quality sleep is important as well as users who are interested in sports performance and longevity. We are interested in hearing from groups of people and may be able to give talks and offer group discounts.

The social care crisis concerns us greatly. Given the importance of good quality sleep to health, we think we could do something to help. In the absence of any funding or trials, we offer a £50 discount to health and care professionals and those who are cared for whom we have  “before and after Zeez” questionnaires.  Ask us. One discount per person.