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3D printed anti-snoring device could help millions of Australians but don’t expect Medicare to pay for it

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3D printed anti-snoring device could help millions of Australians get a good night’s sleep

The O2Vent device

Sleep apnoea is caused by excessive snoring, which can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, irregular heartbeats, heart attacks and diabetes. There’s a new anti-snoring device available which can stop or significantly reduce snoring. However, the prohibitive cost will keep the device out of the reach of those who need it most.

The new ‘O2Vent’ anti-snoring device being manufactured in Melbourne, stops patients from snoring by delivering air to the back of the mouth, alleviating multiple sites of obstruction including the nose, soft palate and tongue. These new anti-snoring devices that are customised to an individual’s specific needs using 3D printing technology.

According to clinical trial data released by the manufacturer, the O2Vent lightweight titanium device can assist those suffering from Sleep Apnoea by stopping or significantly reducing snoring, in 82 per cent of patients.

In a press release dated 8 December 2016, the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Greg Hunt, said the opening of the Oventus 3D printing facility at CSIRO’s Clayton site last week, is a great example of Australian research and technology being rolled out for the benefit of Australians. “The facility will manufacture the O2Vent devices that have the potential to change the lives of millions of people around the world with sleep-disordered breathing.”

“Oventus recently listed on the ASX following a successful IPO that raised $12 million, and they are set to launch onto the US market in early 2017, where over 37 million people regularly suffer from snoring,” said Minister Hunt.

The O2Vent is available through Oventus Accredited Clinicians – dentists who have undergone the training required to assess suitability to O2Vent treatment, and take bite registration and impressions of the top and bottom teeth. Oventus says they are accrediting Clinicians frequently and adding to their existing network. Oventus Accredited Clinicians are located in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, ACT, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia.

Total treatment cost is approximately $2500 which includes the device and related dental consults and procedures. At this stage, rebates for the O2Vent are only available through private health insurers, not Medicare, which means those whose ability to work has been compromised by sleep apnoea won’t receive the benefits of the O2Vent device.

To find a Oventus Accredited Clinician near you, call 1300 533 539 or visit the website at: http://www.oventus.com.au