Researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and Australian dental company Oventus have used 3D printing to create a mouthpiece for patients with sleep apnea.
The mouthpiece is expected to be available to patients in 2015, according to CNET.
The insert is designed to help people suffering from episodes of sleep apnea, which sometimes happen one hundred times each night.
"It's an exciting prospect for people suffering from the debilitating disorder and the design offers significant benefits which cannot be achieved with more traditional manufacturing techniques," said John Barnes, expert in 3D printing at CSIRO.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines that blow air through the nose are one of the current methods of treating sleep apnea. Other methods include a mouthpiece that pushes the jaw forward to open the airway and shock waves therapy that stimulates relaxed nerves in the tongue, Gizmag reported.
"When Oventus came to CSIRO with this idea, we were really excited," Barnes said. "The possibilities of 3D printing are endless and the fact that we can now design and print a completely customized mouthpiece for patients is revolutionary."
The researchers created a map of the patient's mouth with a 3D scanner, and used the results to print a titanium-built mouthpiece that is coated with medical-grade plastic. The device includes a duckbill that extends from the wearer's mouth. The duckbill creates two spate airways to let air avoid obstructions in the nose, back of the mouth, and tongue by moving through the back of the wearer's throat, Business Insider reported.
Sleep apnea can cause a person to stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping. The disorder can have long term health effects such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and depression if left untreated.
The new mouthpiece serves as a confortable solution for people affected by the disorder, Business Insider reported.
"This new device is tailored to an individual's mouth using a 3D scan and is used only on the top teeth which make it more compact and far more comfortable," said Neil Anderson, CEO of Oventus.
It has not been revealed as to whether or not the mouthpiece will be available in markets in other countries.
