Alesis LLC Expands Apnea Network with Three New Joint Ventures Across Chicago, Upper Michigan, and South Florida Within a Week
Alesis LLC has announced a rapid expansion of its Alesis Apnea Network, adding three new joint venture clinic locations within a single week. The newly integrated sites include the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Chicago in St. Charles, Illinois; Alpha Omega Dental Center in Marquette, Michigan; and the South Florida Food Allergy Center in Boca Raton, Florida. With these additions, the network now spans five joint venture locations across five U.S. states, forming a growing national clinical footprint focused on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment using the company’s proprietary Alesis OSA1™ system.
The expansion reflects Alesis’ strategy of building a distributed network of specialized providers who are trained and equipped to deliver its FDA-cleared, prescription-only OSA treatment device. According to the company, the goal is to improve access to alternative therapies for patients who have struggled with conventional treatments, particularly continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which remains the standard first-line intervention for moderate to severe sleep apnea.
Terry Ward, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Alesis LLC, described the network’s rapid growth as validation of its clinical and commercial model. He noted that the response from sleep medicine and dental sleep specialists has exceeded expectations, and emphasized that the network is designed to address what he described as a nationwide unmet medical need. Ward highlighted that participating clinicians represent highly credentialed specialists with advanced training in sleep medicine, craniofacial pain, and related disciplines, reinforcing the clinical rigor behind the network’s expansion.
Addressing a Widespread but Under-Treated Condition
Obstructive sleep apnea is widely recognized as a major public health concern in the United States. An estimated 30 million Americans have been diagnosed with the condition, while millions more are believed to remain undiagnosed. The disorder is characterized by repeated upper airway obstruction during sleep, leading to disrupted breathing, fragmented sleep, and reduced oxygen saturation.
Untreated OSA is associated with significant long-term health risks, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cognitive decline, and overall reduced life expectancy. Some estimates suggest that patients with untreated sleep apnea may experience a reduction in life expectancy of approximately seven years, underscoring the clinical urgency of effective and sustainable treatment options.
Despite the availability of CPAP therapy as the gold standard treatment, real-world adherence remains a significant challenge. Clinical studies have consistently shown that between 40% and 70% of patients discontinue CPAP use over time. The reasons cited include discomfort associated with wearing a mask and tubing during sleep, noise, feelings of claustrophobia, skin irritation, and inconvenience during travel. As a result, many patients who are formally diagnosed and prescribed CPAP ultimately remain effectively untreated.
Alesis positions its approach as a response to this adherence gap, targeting patients who have discontinued CPAP therapy or are unable to tolerate it long-term.
Alesis OSA1™: A Non-Invasive Approach to Treating the Root Cause
At the center of the Alesis Apnea Network is the Alesis OSA1™, an FDA-cleared, prescription-only medical device designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea through a non-invasive mechanism. The device uses a patented high-powered non-laser light technology to induce what the company describes as photonic lipolysis, a process intended to reduce localized fat deposits in the upper airway, including the neck, tongue, and throat.
These anatomical structures are widely recognized as key contributors to airway collapse during sleep in many patients with OSA. By targeting these areas, the device aims to address what Alesis describes as one of the primary root causes of airway obstruction.
The treatment protocol does not involve surgery, anesthesia, needles, or recovery time. Instead, patients undergo a series of six 12-minute in-office treatment sessions over a three-week period. The company emphasizes the simplicity and non-invasive nature of the procedure as a key differentiator compared with surgical interventions or lifelong mechanical therapies.
Alesis reports that multi-site randomized IRB-approved clinical trials (NCT06949969 listed on ClinicalTrials.gov) demonstrated that 80% of participants experienced improvements in their Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), ranging from 51% to 85% reduction after just three weeks of treatment. The company positions these outcomes as evidence of rapid clinical efficacy, although longer-term durability and broader real-world validation remain areas of ongoing observation.
The OSA1 device is manufactured in the United States by Photonica USA, LLC, based in Cocoa Beach, Florida. It holds multiple FDA clearances, including K160880, K150336, and K202361, and is supported by 11 utility patents granted across 31 countries. According to Alesis, the underlying technology has been in use for more than a decade without reported serious adverse events.
Expansion of the Alesis Apnea Network
With the addition of the three new locations, the Alesis Apnea Network now includes five joint venture sites across five states. The network is designed to connect patients with board-certified specialists trained in sleep-disordered breathing and related disciplines, including dental sleep medicine, craniofacial pain, and immunology.
Each new partner brings a distinct clinical specialization, reflecting Alesis’ multidisciplinary approach to obstructive sleep apnea management.
TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Chicago – Illinois
The Chicago-area partner, located in St. Charles, Illinois, is the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Chicago, led by Dr. Lynn Lipskis, DDS, a highly credentialed specialist in craniofacial pain and dental sleep medicine. Dr. Lipskis holds multiple board certifications, including Diplomate status with the American Board of Craniofacial Pain, the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, and the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine.
She has dedicated more than two decades to treating temporomandibular joint disorders and sleep-disordered breathing, developing a multidisciplinary, non-invasive treatment philosophy. According to Dr. Lipskis, many patients diagnosed with sleep apnea discontinue CPAP therapy due to intolerance, leaving them without effective alternatives. She views the Alesis OSA1 system as an additional option for this patient population, complementing oral appliance therapy and lifestyle interventions such as weight management.
The clinic is located at 700 East Main Street, Suite A, St. Charles, Illinois.
Alpha Omega Dental Center – Michigan
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Alesis has partnered with Alpha Omega Dental Center in Marquette, led by Dr. Cynthia M. Wiggins, DDS. Dr. Wiggins is a board-certified specialist in dental sleep medicine and craniofacial pain and a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. She graduated at the top of her class from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and has practiced in the Marquette region for more than 30 years.
Dr. Wiggins emphasized the importance of expanding access to advanced sleep apnea care in geographically underserved regions. She noted that patients in rural and remote areas often face limited access to specialized sleep medicine providers. Joining the Alesis Apnea Network, she said, allows local patients to access alternative treatment options without traveling long distances to major metropolitan centers.
The clinic is located at 1550 Commerce Drive, Marquette, Michigan.
South Florida Food Allergy Center – Florida
The third new partner, the South Florida Food Allergy Center in Boca Raton, Florida, introduces a different clinical dimension to the network. Led by Dr. Rabia Q. Chaudhry, MD, FACAAI, a board-certified allergist and immunologist, this site brings expertise in immune-mediated conditions that intersect with sleep-disordered breathing.
Upper airway inflammation, often driven by allergic rhinitis and related immune disorders, is recognized as a contributing factor in obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Chaudhry’s involvement reflects an effort to integrate immunology and sleep medicine perspectives in treating patients with complex, overlapping conditions.
Dr. Chaudhry trained at Harvard Medical School and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and has conducted research internationally. She emphasized that sleep apnea affects diverse populations across age, ethnicity, and body type, and noted that many patients are unaware of treatment alternatives beyond CPAP therapy. She described the OSA1 system as an evidence-supported option that expands clinical choice for her patients.
The clinic is located in Boca Raton, Florida.
A Growing National Model for Sleep Apnea Care
Alesis positions its Apnea Network as a coordinated national model for delivering advanced, non-invasive sleep apnea treatment through specialized clinical partners. The company’s approach combines medical device innovation with a distributed provider ecosystem designed to improve patient access and treatment adoption.
By focusing on patients who are unable or unwilling to remain on CPAP therapy, Alesis is targeting one of the most persistent challenges in sleep medicine: long-term adherence. The company believes that expanding access to alternative therapies could significantly improve outcomes for a large segment of the diagnosed OSA population that remains undertreated.
With the rapid addition of three new clinical partners in a single week, Alesis LLC is accelerating the expansion of its Alesis Apnea Network across the United States. Centered around its FDA-cleared OSA1™ device, the company is building a multi-specialty ecosystem aimed at addressing the long-standing treatment gap in obstructive sleep apnea.
By combining non-invasive technology, clinical expertise, and a growing national provider network, Alesis is positioning itself within a broader movement toward alternative, patient-centered sleep apnea therapies that aim to improve adherence, accessibility, and overall long-term disease management.
About Alesis LLC
Alesis LLC is headquartered in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and serves as the exclusive U.S. distributor of the Alesis OSA1™ device. The company is focused on expanding access to non-surgical OSA treatment through partnerships with exemplary sleep medicine practices nationwide.
Alesis LLC is led by Terry J. Ward, Sr., M.H.A., who invented photonic lipolysis in 2011 and its application to OSA treatment in 2025. For physician inquiries, contact Terry J. Ward, Sr. directly at 800-248-5051 or visit AlesisMedical.com.
