Approximately 12 to 18 million American adults suffer from sleep apnea, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
To provide relief, Oventus, a medical device company from Brisbane, Australia, developed the O2Vent T, a medical device that provides relief for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Using 3D printing technology, the O2Vent T stabilizes the jaw position by bringing the tongue forward to reduce airway collapse. It is designed with medical-grade titanium, customized for each patient, and a “duckbill” (whistle) design that creates the seperate airway to the back of the mouth.
(Credit: Oventus)
“O2Vent T is unique because the patented airway design allows patients to breathe through a separate airway, which has never been done before,” according to Dr. Chris Hart, Founder and Clinical Director for Oventus. “This differentiated design essentially acts as a second ‘nose’ for patients and may be a more comfortable solution than other technologies on the market for the millions of patients who suffer from untreated OSA.”
Hart was inspired to create the first O2Vent T prototype, the O2Vent Mono, due to personal history with sleep apnea.
OSA is caused by an obstruction in the throat that restricts air flow, causing people to stop breathing. OSA can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, irregular heartbeats, and diabetes, according to Oventus. Those who are overweight or are obese are at a higher risk for OSA.
“The rising epidemic of OSA and its consequences are under-diagnosed and marginally managed at best,” states Dr. Michael Sodeifi, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and one of the first clinicians in San Francisco to treat patients with O2Vent T. “It has huge impacts on society by adversely affecting our physical and mental health, personal relationships and job performance. As both a surgeon trained to treat this condition and a sufferer, I am very excited to be working with Oventus to introduce this device to other patients in the United States.”
This device will be launching in San Francisco on Jan. 21 during the G’Day Australia events. Other launch locations include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Leawood, KS and Delaware.
