Here whilst studying investigating various patients they discovered the three different strains of Sleep Apnea. In 1969, Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the trachea (windpipe)and breathing tubes inserted. The First CPAP Machine:1981 The First CPAP machine was invented in 1981 by Australian Colin Sullivan and his team. The idea was pretty basic and was inspired by the idea of reversing how a vacuum cleaner works, pushing air out instead of sucking in.