Neurologist dreams up patient-friendly pillow

The Florida physician turns his invention into a business, as Sona Pillow gets its start from eager patients with sleep disorders.

By Mike Norbut, AMNews staff. June 19, 2006.

Making sidelines pay
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Name: Najeeb Zuberi, MD

Specialty: Neurology

Location: Kissimmee, Fla.

Business: Sleep Devices Inc. The company sells Sona Pillow, a patented, contoured pillow that serves as a treatment option for people with sleep apnea and snoring problems. The product is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Annual Revenue: The company earned about $100,000 last year, but has an earnings goal of $500,000 this year.

Why he started the business: Dr. Zuberi developed his interest in sleep disorders during a fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles. He quickly saw that patients were not having great success dealing with sleep apnea with the standard treatment, involving continuous positive airway pressure machines.