A breath of fresh air
Oventus is a Brisbane-based, medical device company established in 2012 to meet the unmet needs of Obstructive Sleep Apnoeics, nasal obstructers and non-compliant CPAP users. In 2013, Oventus worked with the CSIRO to develop a new style of custom mouthguard that has the potential to help millions of snorers and people with sleep apnoea sufferers around the world.
The result is the O2VentTM – a non-invasive sleep apnoea treatment option with a range of oral devices incorporating Oventus Airway Technology, a unique separate airway which is built into its patented design.
The O2Vent™’s unique design directs the air flow through to the back of the throat, alleviating multiple sites of obstruction including the nose, soft palate and tongue.
The device incorporates the Oventus Airway Technology, or ‘second nose’ – a unique airway built into its patented design, allowing for breathing through the device to bypass nasal resistance which can contribute to snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).
Using CAD software to create a 3D drawing of the patient’s mouth and bite, Oventus uses 3D printing technology to manufacture these custom-made medical-grade mouthguards from titanium.
Our mission
Oventus aims to become a world leader in sleep disorder treatment by commercialising our suite of revolutionary oral devices and inspiring a new paradigm of care — taking the treatment OSA to the next level by providing a real alternative for the broader population within a unique treatment platform.
Future innovation and product development
The patented airway in the O2VentTM enables exciting opportunities for dentists to offer alternative treatments to their patients. In addition to the custom oral appliance therapy range, Oventus Medical is developing a temporary device, incorporating the Oventus Airway Technology, giving dentists and patients the option to deliver immediate therapy to patients prior to progressing to a customised device.
In February 2017 Oventus Medical was announced as the lead participant in a AUD$3 Million Australian Government grant to advance research into the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. Alongside industry and scientific experts in the field, Oventus Medical will work with NeuRA (Neuroscience Research Australia) and the CSIRO (Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation) on exciting research exploring the benefit of the Oventus airway design as a treatment approach in progressive OSA treatments such as algorithms for treatment success, in-built compliance and efficacy monitoring and miniaturised CPAP pumps.
Well advanced in the product development cycle is the ‘Oventus Connect’ – a one-size-fits-all, out-of-the-box adaptor that can potentially reduce CPAP pressure requirements and remove the need for uncomfortable masks and head straps.
As well as therapeutic advantages, the Oventus Airway Technology has the ability to facilitate diagnosis and monitoring. Currently in testing is an inbuilt form of compliance monitoring and an attachment that allows a ‘Level III’ home sleep test to be completed any time, anywhere, without wires hanging off the patient and feeding data directly to an Oventus App and online treatment monitoring portal.
About the Oventus Management team
The company is managed by Founder, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr Chris Hart BSc. BDSc.(Hons) M.Phil.(Cantab). Chris is supported by the following Management team.
Dr Chris Hart
Founder, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Chris is the founder of the Company and inventor of the O2VentTM design concept. Chris is overseeing the launch of the O2VentTM to patients and through clinicians and heads the management team as they roll out the Oventus Sleep Treatment Platform across Australia and the United States. Chris is also heavily involved with training and presenting to the dental and sleep sector. Chris graduated from the University of Queensland in 1998 with a Bachelor of Dental Science with Honours and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. He has studied at Cambridge University where he graduated with a Master of Philosophy in Biomedical Science in 1999. Prior to establishing Oventus, Chris owned and managed a multi-site national dental practice, training institute and management consultancy which he sold to private equity investors. Chris also acts as an adviser to various bodies within the dental industry on the commercial aspects of health care delivery.
Neil Anderson
Chief Technical Officer
An experienced company executive and biomaterial scientist, Neil started working with Dr Chris Hart in 2013, to develop and commercialise the O2VentTM obstructive sleep apnoea treatment and bring it to market. Neil has been responsible for managing the collaboration process with the CSIRO to develop a remotely-managed computer aided detection (CAD) imaging and 3D printing manufacturing platform, as well as the patent portfolio, quality systems and regulatory clearances for the product to date.
Neil has 30 years’ experience in commercialising medical devices and managing the process from conception to market release including applied research, developing prototypes and testing, product development, manufacturing, regulatory submissions and clinical trials.
Prior to taking on the role with Oventus, Neil founded and held the role of Chief Executive Officer of CathRx for 10 years.
In this role, Neil managed the process from the invention of the company’s technology through to commercialising a range of products leading to sales in Europe.
Neil has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons) and a Diploma of Management and is a Graduate of the Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Dan Parry
Chief Financial and Operations Officer
Dan Parry joined Oventus in December 2017 with over 20 years of experience as CFO and Company Secretary in the life science, technology and medical service sectors.
Dan has held senior finance roles with companies in the US, UK and Australia, ranging from venture-backed start-ups to NASDAQ listed companies including Astellas, Synergen, Cortech, Heska, Accera and Implicit Bioscience Ltd. His experience also includes corporate finance and internal audit roles with a Fortune 100 company and six years in public accounting where Dan qualified as a CPA in the US.
In these roles, Dan has managed finance, accounting, human resources, information technology, facilities, legal and compliance functions and mergers and acquisitions. Dan is professionally qualified as Chartered Accountant in Australia and as a CPA in the US, with an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management in Chicago.
Robin Randolph
Vice President of Marketing and Operations, North America
Starting her career as a nurse, then sleep technologist and clinical researcher, Robin Randolph is an accomplished marketing and sales executive with over 30 years’ experience in the sleep industry, including past ownership of US sleep centres.
Robin joined Oventus Medical in April 2018 as Vice President of Marketing and Operations, North America. Robin’s vast experience spans medical device commercialisation, product management, clinical education, reimbursement and sleep centre operations management.
Robin has held senior management roles in these areas for both ResMed and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. She is passionate about education for patient management of sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnoea, sharing her in-depth industry knowledge and promoting the advantages of Oventus Airway Technology.
Medical Technology Advisory Board Members
Lee A. Surkin, MD, FACC, FCCP, FASNC
Chief Medical Officer of N3Sleep
Lee A. Surkin, MD, FACC, FCCP, FASNC is the Chief Medical Officer of N3Sleep. A private practitioner in cardiology, sleep medicine and obesity medicine, he is one of a small group of physicians to be triple board certified in cardiology, sleep medicine and nuclear cardiology. His professional career has evolved from practicing cardiology exclusively to a unique practice model that emphasizes a comprehensive wellness approach by incorporating sleep, cardiovascular and bariatric medicine.
In 2009, he created Carolina Sleep – the only dedicated sleep medicine practice in eastern NC. Carolina Sleep is a full-service sleep medicine practice offering in-center and home sleep testing with comprehensive clinic evaluation and management. Carolina Sleep offers a multifaceted approach to treatment including PAP therapy, Provent (1st practice in the state to offer Provent), and a medically supervised weight loss program. He has forged successful relationships with ENTs and dental sleep physicians and has demonstrated leadership by introducing new and innovative testing and treatment modalities.
Dr. Surkin has created a cardiovascular and sleep healthcare model that includes a multi-faceted diagnostic and treatment approach that is enhanced by a network of relationships with physicians, dentists, respiratory therapists, sleep technologists and public officials who recognize the important role that sleep medicine has in our daily life.
In 2012, Dr. Surkin founded the American Academy of Cardiovascular Sleep Medicine which is a not-for-profit academic organization dedicated to educating healthcare providers, supporting research and increasing public awareness of the convergence between cardiovascular disease and sleep disorders. In 2014, Dr. Surkin created a new multi-specialty practice called Carolina Clinic for Health and Wellness which combines his specialties with primary care, gynecology, behavioral health and a medical spa. Dr. Surkin is married with three daughters and two dogs and resides in Greenville, NC.
Richard K. Bogan, MD, FCCP, FAASM
Richard K. Bogan, MD, FCCP, FAASM is Associate Clinical Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, SC and Medical University of SC in Charleston, SC. He is the Chief Medical Officer and a Director of SleepMed Inc.. He is one of the founders of SleepMed, the largest sleep diagnostic company in the U.S.
Dr. Bogan received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Alabama Hospitals and Clinics and his Pulmonary, Critical Care fellowship at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, both in Birmingham, Alabama.
Dr. Bogan is board certified in sleep medicine, pulmonary medicine and internal medicine with previous certification in critical care. He has served as the medical director for several hospital departments and serves on various business, community, and civic boards. He has dedicated the majority of his medical career to creating standards of excellence in sleep disease management. In addition to operating a Columbia-based, 9-bed, accredited sleep center, he has been involved in numerous clinical research trials and has published numerous articles in sleep medicine. He has been a consultant to the pharmaceutical and device industry and has lectured in international, regional and national meetings.
Jerrold A. Kram, MD, FCCP, FAASM
Medical Director of the California Center for Sleep Disorders
Dr. Jerry Kram is the medical director of the California Center for Sleep Disorders which he founded in 1980 as one of the first free standing centers in the country and now has 8 locations.
He received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine graduating with honors. He then went to the University of California San Francisco where he trained in Internal Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and Pulmonary Medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and sleep medicine. He has lectured extensively around the country on sleep disorders helping to advance the awareness of sleep disorders. He has conducted many clinical trials of treatments for various sleep disorders and published articles and chapters on this topic.
He is on the faculty of the School of Sleep Medicine at Samuel Merritt University and a member of the Board of the National Sleep Foundation. He lives in Northern California with his wife and has 5 children and 9 grandchildren.
Mark Hickey, MD, FAASM
Founder, Colorado Sleep Institute
Dr. Hickey is the founder of the Colorado Sleep Institute (formerly Rem Sleep Medicine PC), which was established in 2010 to provide truly comprehensive care for the full spectrum of sleep disorders.
Dr. Hickey is a Mayo-trained Neurologist and is both fellowship-trained & board-certified in Sleep Medicine. He is devoted to the full-time practice of Sleep Medicine.
After graduating from the University of South Florida College of Medicine, Dr. Hickey pursued a residency in adult Neurology at Mayo Clinic Arizona. Thereafter he completed a fellowship program in Sleep Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport.
Dr. Hickey was an Assistant Professor of Sleep Medicine in the Department of Neurology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center prior to founding the Colorado Sleep Institute in 2010.
At the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Dr. Hickey serves in three capacities: consultant to the AASM Health Policy Strategy Presidential Committee, Welltrinsic Board member, and AASM legislative liaison. At the Boulder Valley Individual Practice Association, he is both a Board member and Credentials Committee member. At the Boulder Valley Care Network, he serves as a Board member. He is an active member of the Colorado Medical Society and Boulder County Medical Society.
When not working, Dr. Hickey enjoys spending time with his family camping, hiking and fishing.
Mark A. Rasmus, MD, FAASM
Medical Director, Idaho Sleep Health
Dr. Mark Rasmus, Medical Director of Idaho Sleep Health, obtained his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. He completed a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics through Albany Medical Center in New York, followed by a pulmonary/critical care fellowship at the University of Utah and a sleep medicine fellowship at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. Rasmus is board certified in pediatrics, internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, critical care and sleep medicine.
Dedicated to public education about sleep matters, Dr. Rasmus has appeared on television and frequently speaks to community groups and physicians. He has conducted clinical research and has published articles in sleep disordered breathing and CPAP humidification. Further research projects focused on the relationship between cardiovascular disorders and sleep disordered breathing. His expertise allows the Idaho Sleep Health staff to deliver the best possible care to patients of all ages with sleep disorders.
On a national level, Dr. Rasmus is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the American College of Chest Physicians, the American College of Physicians and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. In 2007 he was awarded an appointment at the University of Washington Department of Medicine as a Clinical Instructor.
In his free time, Dr. Rasmus enjoys skiing, white-water kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, gourmet cooking and traveling.
Daniel B. Brown, Esq.
Partner, Healthcare and Corporate Practice Groups, Taylor English Duma LLP Atlanta, Georgia.
Dan is an accomplished corporate and healthcare attorney who regularly advises clients on the legal and regulatory aspects associated with the operation and sale of heath care businesses.
He represents a variety of sleep medicine providers, durable medical equipment suppliers, medical device manufacturers, physician groups, health care franchisors and health systems on structuring health care business operations and maintaining regulatory compliance with the Stark laws, Anti-Kickback Laws and HIPAA. An experienced corporate lawyer, Dan advises health care providers in mergers, asset acquisitions, and joint ventures. He is a frequent speaker and author on the legal aspects of sleep medicine, home medical equipment, and other health law matters.
Dan served as Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee of the National Sleep Foundation. He is on the Faculty of the Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine and Technology and on the Editorial Advisory Board of Sleep Review Magazine.
He is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the American Health Lawyers Association, and the Health Law Section of the Georgia State Bar.
Myra G. Brown
President, MBrownGroup LLC
Myra has more than 30 years of experience managing, consulting, directing and developing business opportunities for health care companies, device manufacturers, health insurers, entrepreneurs, and individual health care providers. She received an MBA in Healthcare Administration from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and began her career with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). She later served as the Chief Operating Office of The Bill Wilkerson Center of Vanderbilt University.
After relocating with her family from Nashville to Atlanta, Myra established her consulting practice, where she works developing strategic business, branding and marketing plans for companies ranging from new business start-ups to multinational entities. For the past 12 years, she has focused on the consumer sleep market, interacting with the media, engaging with consumers, retailers and providers through product development, branding, licensing, public relations and social media.
For 8 years she served as president and cofounder of License to Sleep, a product and brand licensing company offering scientific development and professional endorsement of a wide array of sleep products and services.
Myra and her husband are parents of three adult daughters and are avid Atlanta Braves fans. They live in Sandy Springs, GA.