Queensland medical device company Oventus and CSIRO have developed a breakthrough sleeping aid for people suffering from sleep apnoea.
The Oventus technology, which has been developed with funding support from the Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Program, uses a 3D scanner to map a patient’s mouth and a 3D metal titanium printer to produce the mouthpiece, which is coated with a medical grade plastic.
The technology has been perfected with the help of CSIRO researchers who improved the original device by adding a pressure valve which uses the patient’s own breathing to prevent airway collapse.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the device will benefit more than one million Australians suffering from the disease.
“This is a world first product that will not only benefit Australians but also the growing number of sleep apnoea sufferers globally,” Minister Andrews added.
“Through CRC-Ps Australia’s pool of talented researchers are able to join forces with industry to develop innovative products, that can make a difference in our everyday lives.”
