Sleep Review interviews Bill Antilla, RPSGT, from Cadwell Laboratories

Companies begin in a number of different ways. Some companies begin in garages, others in a bedroom, and some, like Cadwell Laboratories Inc, Kennewick, Wash, in a household basement.

Brothers John and Carl Cadwell began Cadwell Laboratories in 1979, a time when most sleep diagnostic machines used an older analog system. John had an idea of taking the technology of a microprocessor-based machine and creating another system that would automatically configure itself for a particular procedure when the user pushed only one or two buttons.

His innovation was very well received. Not only could physicians treat more patients in less time, they were able to save money.

“It was a unique time in the marketplace,” says Bill Antilla, RPSGT, senior product manager of Cadwell. “The brothers were wise to see that a transition was occurring.”

Sleep Review spoke to Antilla about the company’s transition into the competitive sleep market.

Q. How is Cadwell different from other sleep-related companies?
A.
We are one of the few privately owned companies in this field that operates in the United States. We are focused on the needs of our customers and strive to deliver features that simplify complex tasks. Many of our larger competitors have diverse product lines; ours is synergistic and focused on the neurology and sleep marketplace. This is what we do every day.

Q. Can you explain Cadwell’s video software program?
A.
Instead of relying on another manufacturer’s video compression technology, we designed our own digital video system, Q-Video®. The system captures, compresses, and synchronizes video data with polysomnographic and EEG data. Our customers told us they wanted smaller video files that would allow a simpler management and archiving system. John Cadwell helped us program the software to perform real-time video compression, minimizing video file size. Additionally, movement captured by the system is quantified and colorized for the physician. This allows the physician to quickly view a video movement histogram, summarizing all movement recorded during the data collection process.

Q. How will it affect the sleep industry?
A.
Historically, video was collected through a VCR. Correlating video data on VHS tape with PSG/EEG data was inefficient and time-consuming. With today’s technology, many physicians prefer to collect all PSG/EEG recordings with time-synchronized digital video. Many clinicians would never consider collecting a polysomnogram without an ECG signal. We believe the time will come when a physician would never consider performing a sleep study without synchronized digital video.

Q. Where do you see the sleep industry heading?
A.
The entire industry will continue to grow. If you look at the events of September 11, 2001, many people are having problems with sleep, insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, and periodic limb movements. More people are investigating or talking to their physicians about how they can treat these problems. We see Cadwell helping doctors help others.