Israeli Veteran Develops PTSD Sleep Aid in Memory of Fallen IDF K9

After surviving a life-altering battlefield injury and the heartbreaking loss of his military dog, Israeli veteran Ben Fuxbruner has turned trauma into triumph developing a pioneering sleep aid technology aimed at helping others overcome the haunting effects of PTSD.

Fuxbruner, now 30, served as a commander in the elite Oketz K9 unit of the Israel Defense Forces during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. He was severely wounded in combat in Gaza’s Shuja’iyya neighborhood. His canine partner, Kimba, was also injured and died months later. The experience left deep emotional and physical scars.

“Many times I think Kimba stayed alive just long enough to help me survive,” he said. “When I finally stood up and returned to the army, she let go. That was extremely difficult.”

Struggling for years with post-traumatic stress disorder, Fuxbruner faced endless sleepless nights. “Every little noise startled me into a combat-ready state. It was impossible to fall asleep,” he recalled.

Determined to heal and help others, Fuxbruner pursued a degree in mechanical engineering at Tel Aviv University. There, he reunited with a fellow IDF veteran, and together they founded Kimba a company named in honor of the dog who saved his life.

The product they’ve developed combines wearable sensors with scent-diffusion technology. It detects physical and emotional markers during sleep and then releases specific scents proven to reduce anxiety and promote deeper, uninterrupted rest.

“Our sense of smell is directly connected to the brain’s emotional center,” Fuxbruner explained. “At night, this link becomes even stronger it bypasses other systems and speaks straight to the parts of us that hold fear, stress, and memory.”

Supported by leading researchers like Prof. Peretz Lavie and Dr. Anat Arzi, the Kimba system is now in clinical trials at major hospitals and universities. The goal is to make this innovation available not only for trauma survivors, including veterans and first responders, but also for anyone suffering from chronic sleep disorders and anxiety.

“My greatest hope is that Kimba will help improve the sleep and lives of as many people as possible,” said Fuxbruner.

Rooted in courage and memory, this groundbreaking Israeli invention is not only transforming trauma care it’s honoring a fallen hero who gave everything to protect her partner.

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