CPAP Devices

[marlowem1415]

I'm a student working at the University of Michigan to develop an innovative device that will help patients with sleep apnea through the forward manipulation of the mandible. We have created a device to be used intraorally as a mouth piece that moves the bottom jaw in a forward position, which opens the back of the throat, allowing more air to enter the lungs (similar to the Tap 3). For the purpose of being innovative, we are looking at possibly integrating our device with a CPAP mask and an overhead nasal pillow so that they are connected and work in tandem. I'm looking for some feedback to find if patients would be more interested in using a device that could connect to different CPAP masks as opposed to having to use a CPAP mask, nasal pillow, and intraoral mouthpiece separately. If you have any comments or questions, please jot them down as this project could possibly be put on the market this summer and would greatly improve the quality of sleep of sleep apnics!

[jnk...]

I'm a student working at the University of Michigan to develop an innovative device that will help patients with sleep apnea through the forward manipulation of the mandible. We have created a device to be used intraorally as a mouth piece that moves the bottom jaw in a forward position, which opens the back of the throat, allowing more air to enter the lungs (similar to the Tap 3). For the purpose of being innovative, we are looking at possibly integrating our device with a CPAP mask and an overhead nasal pillow so that they are connected and work in tandem. I'm looking for some feedback to find if patients would be more interested in using a device that could connect to different CPAP masks as opposed to having to use a CPAP mask, nasal pillow, and intraoral mouthpiece separately. If you have any comments or questions, please jot them down as this project could possibly be put on the market this summer and would greatly improve the quality of sleep of sleep apnics!

I used an oral device for years in conjunction with PAP. The design of the device allowed my teeth to click into it so that it helped my mouth stay shut during PAP, which allowed me to use nasal pillows. Eventually my use of the oral device trained me to keep my mouth shut during sleep. Now I am able to use nasal pillows alone with no oral device. I consider the oral device, used in conjunction with PAP, to have been an important part of my making a success of PAP therapy. However, it required a skilled dentist trained in the making of such devices to make the device for me.

My belief is that in a perfect world, any patient diagnosed moderate to severe OSA would immediately be fitted for an oral device to use until a PAP machine is provided, and that patient should be encouraged to continue to use the oral device during the start of PAP therapy. (But my beliefs tend to be way outside the box.) To my way of thinking, that would put oral devices on a higher plane--something complementary to PAP instead of something in competition with it. When enough dentists were trained, prices would come way down. Furthermore, keeping the mouth closed during sleep would likely improve dental health to the point that the devices would quickly pay for themselves.

In my opinion.

[Guest1]

Heard of the Tap Pap mask?

[jnk...]

Heard of the Tap Pap mask?

Do they make one that has . . .

forward manipulation of the mandible

?

[grayghost4]

I have a MAD I use with cpap ... and use the palaro Q mask ... and would be glad to test and give feed back on you new device

[Huh?]

immediately be fitted for an oral device to use until a PAP machine is provided

Huh? You can pull a cpap machine and mask off the shelf to go home with the person. An oral device has to be fitted and sent to the manufacturer for construction.

My belief is that in a perfect world

In a perfect world, no one has sleep apnea.

[marlowem1415]

I used an oral device for years in conjunction with PAP. The design of the device allowed my teeth to click into it so that it helped my mouth stay shut during PAP, which allowed me to use nasal pillows. Eventually my use of the oral device trained me to keep my mouth shut during sleep. Now I am able to use nasal pillows alone with no oral device. I consider the oral device, used in conjunction with PAP, to have been an important part of my making a success of PAP therapy. However, it required a skilled dentist trained in the making of such devices to make the device for me.

My belief is that in a perfect world, any patient diagnosed moderate to severe OSA would immediately be fitted for an oral device to use until a PAP machine is provided, and that patient should be encouraged to continue to use the oral device during the start of PAP therapy. (But my beliefs tend to be way outside the box.) To my way of thinking, that would put oral devices on a higher plane--something complementary to PAP instead of something in competition with it. When enough dentists were trained, prices would come way down. Furthermore, keeping the mouth closed during sleep would likely improve dental health to the point that the devices would quickly pay for themselves.

In my opinion.[/quote]

Thank you! This information is actually very useful. If any other users would like to comment please include information like this as this is exactly the type of user comments we need for proof of concept

[marlowem1415]

I used an oral device for years in conjunction with PAP. The design of the device allowed my teeth to click into it so that it helped my mouth stay shut during PAP, which allowed me to use nasal pillows. Eventually my use of the oral device trained me to keep my mouth shut during sleep. Now I am able to use nasal pillows alone with no oral device. I consider the oral device, used in conjunction with PAP, to have been an important part of my making a success of PAP therapy. However, it required a skilled dentist trained in the making of such devices to make the device for me.

My belief is that in a perfect world, any patient diagnosed moderate to severe OSA would immediately be fitted for an oral device to use until a PAP machine is provided, and that patient should be encouraged to continue to use the oral device during the start of PAP therapy. (But my beliefs tend to be way outside the box.) To my way of thinking, that would put oral devices on a higher plane--something complementary to PAP instead of something in competition with it. When enough dentists were trained, prices would come way down. Furthermore, keeping the mouth closed during sleep would likely improve dental health to the point that the devices would quickly pay for themselves.

In my opinion.

Thank you! This information is actually very useful. If any other users would like to comment please include information like this as this is exactly the type of user comments we need for proof of concept[/quote]

[jnk...]

. . . An oral device has to be fitted and sent to the manufacturer for construction . . . .

In my case, the dentist had been trained to take the molds, to adjust for fit and proper mandibular advancement, and to construct the device himself in-house.

[Uncle Sigh]

In my case, the dentist had been trained to take the molds, to adjust for fit and proper mandibular advancement, and to construct the device himself in-house.

That is an inefficient way to do it. Safe to assume this was an elderly dentist that learned this 30 years ago?

My dentist has a girl that makes the mold. The dentist comes in and takes one minute to make the final advancement measurement to go to the lab in Texas. Seven days later the device comes back from the lab. The dentist spent 15 minutes checking the fit and instructing me on use of the device.

The hourly rates for the dentist's girl and the workers in the lab are a fraction of the dentist's hourly rates.

[Uncle Sigh]

We have created a device to be used intraorally as a mouth piece that moves the bottom jaw in a forward position, which opens the back of the throat, allowing more air to enter the lungs (similar to the Tap 3).

CPAP works fine for me. The oral device (TAP 3) is more difficult to tolerate than CPAP. My pressure is APAP 14 - 20.

I don't see much of a market of people who are willing to tolerate both CPAP and an oral device. Most people can't tolerate just one type of therapy - check the compliance rates for CPAP - they are not good. I have never seen compliance rates for oral appliances but I can only imagine that long term they are poor.

I wish you guys would come up with something truly innovative instead of trying to put two things together.

But in any case, best of luck to you.

[Sleep_Apnever]

We have created a device to be used intraorally as a mouth piece that moves the bottom jaw in a forward position, which opens the back of the throat, allowing more air to enter the lungs (similar to the Tap 3).

CPAP works fine for me. The oral device (TAP 3) is more difficult to tolerate than CPAP. My pressure is APAP 14 - 20.

I don't see much of a market of people who are willing to tolerate both CPAP and an oral device. Most people can't tolerate just one type of therapy - check the compliance rates for CPAP - they are not good. I have never seen compliance rates for oral appliances but I can only imagine that long term they are poor.

I wish you guys would come up with something truly innovative instead of trying to put two things together.

But in any case, best of luck to you.

You mentioned coming up with something that is "truly innovative." Do you have any suggestions for them on what could be genuinely innovative in this market? I think that instead of telling them to go find innovation providing advice on areas where there is room for innovation based on your personal experience and knowledge would be most helpful to them.

Nevertheless, I wish you the best of luck in your design project!

[Christine L]

I'm a student working at the University of Michigan to develop an innovative device that will help patients with sleep apnea through the forward manipulation of the mandible.

I am curious about what school or department is doing this work?

[Julie]

Read the first line of the OP's first note Christine - it's in English.

[apw5746]

I'm a student working at the University of Michigan

Is it safe to say you're a dental student?