March 2023 Our client, Morgan Innovation & Technology Ltd (MIAT), worked in collaboration with renowned sleep expert Professor Joerg Steier (consultant in respiratory and sleep medicine at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and professor of respiratory and sleep medicine at King’s College London) to develop Zeus®, a sleekly designed non-invasive anti-snoring device that sits comfortably underneath the chin and gently stimulates muscles in the tongue, keeping the airway open and preventing snoring. With technical aspects, a slick design and a distinctive name, Zeus® was the ideal candidate for patent, design and trade mark protection.
Snoring can be a nuisance not just for the snorer themselves but for partners alike who often struggle to achieve effective deep sleep.
Although anti-snoring methods and devices are known, many are invasive, require sophisticated monitoring or have signal parameters that result in muscle fatigue. Accordingly, there was a need for an improved anti-snoring device that is portable, easy to use, non-invasive and suitable for wearing for long periods so that effective and relaxing sleep can be enjoyed.
Our client, Morgan Innovation & Technology Ltd (MIAT), worked in collaboration with renowned sleep expert Professor Joerg Steier (consultant in respiratory and sleep medicine at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and professor of respiratory and sleep medicine at King’s College London) to develop Zeus®, a sleekly designed non-invasive anti-snoring device that sits comfortably underneath the chin and gently stimulates muscles in the tongue, keeping the airway open and preventing snoring. The device is easy to use and can be worn all night long without the user experiencing muscle fatigue.
In 2015 a UK patent application was drafted and filed to protect the invention underlying Zeus®. Towards the end of the 12-month priority year, a decision was made to file a PCT application, delaying the deadline for making a final decision as to which countries to apply for patent protection in by a further 18 months. Filing a PCT application also provided an opportunity to have the patentability of the invention assessed centrally before incurring the substantial cost of prosecuting individual patent applications in all territories of interest. After receiving the Search Report and Written Opinion on the PCT application, we discussed the option of requesting International Preliminary Examination (also known as filing a ‘Demand’) in order to present arguments in favour of patentability. With a keenness for having the patentability of the invention thoroughly assessed centrally, our client decided to press ahead with filing a Demand. This was a wise move as the result was a positive International Preliminary Report on Patentability that helped accelerate prosecution during the national/regional phase.
Roughly 1.5 years after the PCT application was filed, our client decided to file national/regional phase applications in Australia, Europe, China, Japan and US. All of the Australian, European, Japanese and US applications are now granted as AU2016214351, EP3253443, JP6711837 and US 11,033,738.
Schlich has also assisted in securing both design and trade mark protection for Zeus®.
Now on the market, Zeus is becoming a firm favourite amongst snorers and partners alike.
A recent review reads:
“In a couple of words, life changing. The difference the Zeus Anti-Snore device made is genuinely incredible. I have had years of investigations following the contraction Lyme disease and all have focused on chronic effects directly from Lymes, however it now seems that at the same time snoring/sleep apnoea have been significant contributory factors. Thank you so much for putting your time, knowledge and skills into creating this device, if my experience is anything to go by many, many people will have vastly improved quality of life as a result of this device. I will not sleep without it again”
We look forward to seeing Zeus® revolutionise sleep across the UK and beyond!
