Oventus Medical Ltd

Oventus is a Brisbane-based medical device company providing relief to people with sleep-disordered breathing – from snorers to people with more severe problems including nasal obstruction. The new O2Vent (formerly the Oventus Clearway Device) is a uniquely-designed oral device that gently advances the lower jaw, but also has a separate airway which delivers air directly to the back of the throat, bypassing the tongue and soft palate. In 2011 the company approached the CSIRO with an idea to design a new style of bespoke mouthguard that would change the lives of snorers and sleep apnoea sufferers. The O2Vent is a world-first treatment in sleep therapy providing relief for snorers and both moderate and severe sufferers of sleep apnoea. The O2Vent is the FIRST and ONLY sleep therapy which allows air to flow through to the back of the throat and bypasses nasal, soft palate and tongue obstructions. It incorporates a patented port which extends from the mouth like a whistle and creates a separate airway that allows air to flow directly to the back of the mouth. Using CAD design and 3D printing technologies, the medical-grade mouthguard is created from titanium making it thin and light to wear, unlike any of its oral device competitors. Most oral devices used to treat sleep apnoea move the bottom jaw forward. This also pushes the tongue forward which opens the airway behind the tongue and stops it from falling backwards. The tongue is a common obstruction causing sleep apnoea. For many people, moving the jaw forward causes significant discomfort and pain making these devices unwearable. The O2Vent's unique design with a separate airway does not require significant forward jaw movement and therefore has the advantage of not having the associated jaw discomfort like many of its competitors.