Innovation moving medical technology forward

Oventus was developed by the company founder and Clinical Director, Dr Chris Hart. As a sleep disorder sufferer himself, Dr Hart was anxious to find a sleep-disordered breathing therapy that was better than the current market alternatives. Using his expertise as a professional dentist, he thought he could devise an oral appliance himself that would better increase airflow to the lungs and bypasses multiple sites of obstruction including the nose, tongue and soft palate. In an industry first, Dr Hart partnered with Australia’s peak scientific body, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in 2013 to design a bespoke mouthguard, using innovative titanium 3D-printing technology.

The result was the O₂Vent^TM

With a unique separate airway incorporated into a patented design, the O₂Vent^TM devices allow air to continue to flow unobstructed in the presence of nasal obstruction and/or soft palate collapse while simultaneously preventing tongue collapse and maintaining an oral seal. The O₂Vent^TMaddresses multiple levels of obstruction, not just advancing the lower jaw forward to prevent tongue obstruction.

The customised O₂Vent^TM devices may be particularly beneficial for the many people with nasal obstructions, those that experience soft palate collapse or who are habitual mouth breathers. The product range has developed to now include three titanium devices and the new nylon O₂Vent^TM Optima.

No matter what style of device you prefer to use for your patients, the Oventus Airway Technology can be incorporated into it. Oventus will continue to launch a range of devices utilising different titration mechanisms – all incorporating the unique airway design and all with the ability for out-of-the-box CPAP connectivity, which is well advanced in product development.

The Oventus Medical Quality System is fully accredited according to ISO 13485 international standards.

Do you screen your patients for OSA?

A recent population study cited 17% of females and 22% of male subjects suffered from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea*. As a dentist, you are well positioned to recognise the signs and symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in your patients. Screening your patients, and discussing signs and symptoms, will assist them in making the first step in their treatment journey. As a dentist, you have an important role to play in supporting your patients through diagnosis and treatment of their sleep disordered breathing. With appropriate training and experience in dental sleep medicine, many dentists are recognising the potential to increase the service offering of their practices, and to provide life-changing professional services in Dental Sleep Medicine to their patients. Of the millions of patients that suffer OSA, nasal obstruction and soft palate collapse are major contributing factors, which may not be adequately dealt with by mandibular advancement alone. With variable success rates for surgery in these patients, the O₂Vent^TMtechnology may be of benefit.

To help you start screening your patients for OSA, and for assistance in discussing Oventus Airway technology as part of a treatment platform, you may find the following link useful: Find a Sleep service near you * Defined at an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5 for eleven published epidemiological studies published between 1993 and 2013. Karl A. Franklin, Eva Lindberg: Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder in the population — a review on the epidemiology of sleep apnea.

How the O₂Vent^TM works

1

If there is reduced flow through the nasal airway or a soft palate obstruction occurs, air can be drawn into the front of the device while lips are closed around it to maintain an oral seal

2

Air passes through to the back of the device in an enclosed airway

3

The device advances the lower mandible to stabilise jaw position, bringing the tongue forward and opening the airway

For a more detailed explanation of how the unique design allows for breathing through the device, bypassing obstruction in the nose which can contribute to snoring and sleep apnoea, simply watch this video.

The Oventus Treatment Platform

The Unique O₂Vent^TM Oral Devices offer three key benefits

1 Comfort

The O₂Vent^TM custom mouthguard devices are custom made for you to provide a perfect fit. Made from a titanium core inserted into soft mouthguards, these lightweight sleep apnoea treatment devices weigh only 35 grams (1.23 oz). The streamlined design has enabled an airway to be built into the device whilst not obstructing the tongue.

2 Portability

The lightweight device has no mask or complicated machines attached, so it is easy to take with you as you travel, and store during the day when not in use.

3 Oventus Airway Technology — The Second Nose

Each O₂Vent^TM device has an airway incorporated into it about the size of a healthy human nostril. Air enters the mouth and is delivered to the back of the throat, so you can breathe through the device while maintaining an oral seal, to avoid a dry mouth or sore throat.

Clinical trial results with O₂Vent^TM Mono

100% of patients experienced significant improvement in snoring using the O₂Vent^TM

82% of patients experienced complete elimination of snoring using O₂Vent^TM

76% of patients decreased their Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) by more than 50%**

**Lavery D, Hart C et al. Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Oral Appliance in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine Vol.4 No.3 July 2017

Ongoing Clinical Studies are taking it further

Current studies are looking at upper airway physiology and the effect of Oventus’ low-resistance airway on pharyngeal collapsibility when used in combination therapy — not just the reduction in pressure requirements but also the ability to breathe physiologically while simultaneously applying CPAP. If the clinical data continues to support these early findings, these two advances may represent a significant paradigm shift in the treatment of OSA. Please find also in Clinical Resources, a link to a webinar recording hosted by Dr Chris Hart in May, 2018. The webinar, ‘An Introduction to Oventus Airway Technology’ is available to view and listen to.

Clinical resources

1. Clinical Procedure Guide
2. Clinician Brochure
3. Clinician FAQ’s
4. Patient Brochure 5. Brisbane clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2018 – Airway open-airway closed: The effect of mandibular advancement therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea with and without a novel in-built airway.
5. NeuRA clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2018 – Combination therapy with CPAP plus MAS reduces CPAP therapeutic requirements in incomplete MAS responders.
6. NeuRA clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2018 – Combination therapy with mandibular advancement and expiratory positive airway pressure valves reduces OSA severity.
7. UWA clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2018 – Predictors of Response to a Novel Mandibular Advancement Device (Oventus O₂Vent T) in patients with OSA.
8. NeuRA clinical study presented at AADSM, Boston 2017 – The role of a novel oral appliance therapy device on pharyngeal pressure swings and CPAP requirements during sleep in obstructive sleep apnea: A pilot study
9. UWA clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2017 – The effect of a novel oral appliance therapy on obstructive sleep apnea: preliminary results
10. NeuRA clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2017 – The effects of posture and mandibular advancement on nasal resistance and obstructive sleep apnea treatment outcome with a novel oral appliance therapy device.
11. Clinical Study Abstract on the role of a Novel oral appliance on pharyngeal pressure swings and CPAP requirements during sleep in OSA – NeuRA/UNSW
12. Clinical Study Abstract on the effect of a novel oral appliance therapy on obstructive sleep apnea: preliminary results
13. Clinical Study Abstract on safety and efficacy of a novel oral appliance in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
14. Clinical Study Abstract on the effects of posture and mandibular advancement on nasal resistance and obstructive sleep apnea treatment outcome with a novel oral appliance therapy device
15. Oventus Webinar hosted by Dr Chris Hart, ‘An Introduction to Oventus Airway Technology’ – 21 May, 2018
16. Dental Innovations Webinar hosted by Dr Chris Hart, ‘An Introduction to Oventus Airway Technology’ – 27 June, 2018
17. Oventus Webinar hosted by Dr Chris Hart, ‘Clinical Evidence and Indications for Oventus Airway Technology: Introducing a new treatment modality’ – 3 July, 2018
18. Oventus Webinar hosted by Dr Chris Hart, ‘Innovation in sleep treatment for OSA using Oventus combination therapy: Revolutionising oral appliance therapy via our CPAP alternative’ – 6 August, 2018

Get started with Oventus devices and treatment for your patients

Oventus clinical specialists are ready to support the introduction of the Oventus devices into your practice. In-clinic training can be arranged to equip you and your team with the knowledge you need to introduce your patients to the Oventus Treatment Platform. If you would like more information on how your patients can benefit from these innovative new products and related treatment, or are interested in becoming part of the Oventus clinician network, please register now.

Commonwealth research grant awarded

Oventus Medical has recently been 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 some exciting research exploring the benefit of the Oventus airway design as part of a treatment approach in progressive OSA treatments, such as algorithms for treatment success, in-built compliance and efficacy monitoring and miniaturised CPAP pumps.

Education in Dental Sleep Medicine

Dentists practising in the field of Dental Sleep Medicine should follow the recommendations for practice protocol as reported in the most recent American Academy of Sleep Medicine publication ‘Practice Parameters for the Treatment of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Oral Appliances.’ Oventus encourages dentists to undertake regular appropriate training and educational activities to ensure their knowledge is up to date in this area. Further details of accredited and approved courses are available from the Australasian Sleep Association. Dentists interested in practising in this field are encouraged to become associate members of the ASA and to attend and participate in the annual scientific meetings. These conferences will offer postgraduate introductory courses in Oral Sleep Medicine and present current scientific content in all sleep disorders.

Oventus also recommends internationally recognised training through Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. See the attached flyer for a Tufts University Dental Sleep Medicine Comprehensive Introduction Program in Singapore in April and July 2019.

Relevant publications for you to explore

For further reading on oral appliances, dental appliance therapy and related subjects, please explore the links below: Dental Appliance Therapy for the treatment of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Endorsed by Board of Australasian Sleep Association July 2010 Oral Appliance Position Statement — Australasian Sleep Association, 11 June 2013 Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnoea

Upcoming events and training

Oventus Medical are proud to support major Dental Sleep Medicine events. Events, training and webinars for 2019 coming soon!

ASA Sleep DownUnder 2019

17 - 19 October, 2019. Sydney, NSW, Australia.

FIND OUT MORE

Tufts University Dental Sleep Medicine Comprehensive Introduction Program

18-20 April, 2019 and 4-6 July, 2019. Singapore