From vacuum cleaner to lifesaver: The incredible story of the first CPAP machine

A hot Australian summer night, 1980. A 45-year-old construction worker faced a fateful choice. For years, severe, insurmountable fatigue had haunted him like a shadow. He was so exhausted that one day at his workplace, he nearly lost his balance and fell from the scaffolding—an accident that could have cost him his life. The diagnosis was brutal: severe obstructive sleep apnea. His body was slowly giving up, and every night turned into an unconscious battle for a breath of air.

The doctors, led by a young Dr. Colin Sullivan, presented him with two terrifying alternatives. The first: an invasive surgery that would create a hole in his throat (a tracheotomy) to ensure he could breathe. The second: to become a "guinea pig" for a new, cumbersome, and entirely experimental device called CPAP. A machine weighing 6 kilograms, assembled with parts from a vacuum cleaner, designed to force air into his lungs. This is the story of his choice and of the invention that changed sleep medicine forever.

Anatomy of Despair

At first glance, the construction worker's only symptom was excessive daytime sleepiness. But his blood tests told a different, much scarier story. His blood oxygen levels during sleep dropped by a staggering 50%—a condition known as severe desaturation. This is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest without an oxygen mask—an experience that would lead to fainting or death in a conscious person.

"I told the man, 'Look, you really need to try this machine, or the apnea will kill you,'" Dr. Sullivan recalls.

The Historic Nap

The builder chose the second, albeit uncertain, option. On the night of July 8-9, 1980, he took his leap into the unknown. He became the first person to spend a night with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Without realizing it, his sleep became history.

The next morning, a miracle occurred. For the first time in years, he woke up refreshed, alert, with a clear mind. The brain fog was gone, his blood pressure had normalized. And most amazingly, he realized that the constant lack of oxygen had made him partially colorblind! With his sleep restored, the colors of the world returned to him. Paradoxically, he remembered nothing of the previous evening. His chronic exhaustion had erased his memories of consenting to and preparing for the experiment.

The first CPAP machine - Sullivan Nasal CPAP System (R2), 1988 

The "Facehugger" that Saves Lives

Dr. Sullivan himself described the feeling of the primitive CPAP machine as an encounter with the "facehugger" from Ridley Scott's movie "Alien." But instead of bringing death, this machine brought salvation, blowing a continuous stream of air and stopping the monster of apnea from within. Although today there are dozens of models of devices and masks, the principle remains the same—creating an "air splint" that keeps the airways open.

"I'd rather sleep with this discomfort than be so tired that I'm looking for a nap during the day like a dehydrated person looking for water," Sullivan's patient admitted.

Four Decades of Evolution

Four decades later, CPAP technology has undergone an incredible transformation. The primitive machine with hoses, straps, and roaring "vacuum cleaners" has been replaced by sleek, almost silent devices the size of an alarm clock. Modern CPAP machines are intelligent and automatic, and the masks are minimalist, lightweight, and comfortable. Paradoxically, Dr. Sullivan (who himself uses CPAP for his own snoring) dreams of a day when his invention will no longer be needed. That day may be far off, but the technological progress is undeniable.

From Global Discovery to Local Mission: The Story of Adapt BG

This story of innovation and salvation finds its natural continuation in Bulgaria, thanks to the vision and hard work of the Adapt BG team. More than 12 years ago, in a single modest room at 121 Tri Ushi Street in Sofia, a mission was born—to help people breathe better and live fully.

What began as a family company driven by empathy and a desire for change is now the leader in sleep apnea therapy in Bulgaria, with a network of twelve specialized stores across the country. Our success lies not just in offering modern respiratory equipment, but in building a team of medical specialists and consultants, rehabilitators, therapists, and technicians, united by a single goal.

By trusting us, you are not just trusting a company, but a team of professionals whose daily mission is to help. Dr. Sullivan's revolutionary discovery now reaches more people in need, changing their lives for the #Better here in Bulgaria as well.