Dental Sleep Medicine Insider December 2016 | Page 20

CHRIS HART

AUSSIE
DENTIST
IN
OSA
BREAKTHROUGH
O2Vent Unique Airway Acts as Second Nose
A

ustralian dentist Dr. Chris Hart
was a chronic sleep apneic with severe nasal congestion. In an act of
desperation one sleep-disturbed
night, he fashioned the prototype of
what would become the O2VentTM
T. This “light bulb” moment led to
developing a customized oral appliance with an internal airway to treat
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and
snoring – the first of its kind.
This revolutionary idea has produced the most significant advance
in the sector in decades.
Now, for the first time, this breakthrough technology is available in
the US, offering real hope to the 22
million US sufferers.1

entific body, the Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research
Organisation (CSIRO) in 2013 to design the bespoke mouthguard, using innovative 3D titanium printing
technology.

NOW, FOR THE
FIRST TIME, THIS
BREAKTHROUGH
TECHNOLOGY
IS AVAILABLE IN
THE US, OFFERING
REAL HOPE TO
THE 22 MILLION
US SUFFERERS.1
The result is the O2VentTMT with its
unique separate airway incorporated into its patented design to deliver
air to the back of the mouth, whilst
alleviating multiple sites of obstruction including the nose, soft palate
and tongue.

How does it work?
Like all oral appliances that bring
the jaw forward, the O2VentTM T
stabilizes jaw position and brings
the tongue forward to reduce airway
collapse. Critically, the O2VentTM
T’s unique airway design allows for
breathing through the device, to bypass obstruction in the nose which
can contribute to snoring and sleep
apnea.
This technology has disrupted the
treatment of OSA in Australia and
is already helping many sufferers.
The success of O2VentTM T has propelled Oventus Medical to take their
revolutionary technology global.
In another industry first, Dr Hart
partnered with Australia’s peak sci-

The customized devices may be
particularly beneficial for the many
people with nasal obstructions and
consequently tend to mainly breathe
through their mouth.
The Oventus mission is to be a global leader in treating OSA and snoring
with a focus on treating people who
cannot be treated, or treated effectively, with existing therapies.

Future Developments
The O2VentTMT’s patented airway
enables exciting opportunities for
dentists to offer alternative treatments to sufferers who have not
responded to existing therapies. Future developments include a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
connection – providing an option
for severe OSA or non-responders, a

DR. CHRIS HART

Oventus Founder
and Clinical Director
Dr Chris Hart BSc. BDSc.
(Hons) M.Phil. (Cantab) 
boil-and-bite temporary trial device
and the COMBIBITE - another novel
innovation developed for dentists to
record bite registrations and dental
impressions using one device.
Oventus is excited by the opportunity to offer real hope to an estimated
80% of the 100 million people suffering OSA globally.

1. Sleep Apnoea Diagnostic & Therapeutic Devices Market – Global End-user Analysis. Competitive Landscape &
Forecast to 2020 Markets and Markets
2015