Design and Manufacturing of a Novel Intraoral Prosthesis for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common chronic condition which requires ongoing, often lifelong, management. It is a global problem which, left untreated, can result in lower quality of life and general health. Although a wide range of existing treatments exist, their rates of compliance among patients are low. Along with our MIT Catalyst team, I set out to develop and refine a device which prioritized patient comfort with a minimally intrusive design while maintaining safety and efficacy in reducing OSA. I tested multiple parameters within the device to optimize comfort and created a comfort survey to evaluate success. Throughout this process, I simultaneously developed and documented my manufacturing technique for the device, providing a foundation for further tests in patients to measure OSA reduction. In combination with altering the design for comfort, I completed computational simulations in Abaqus to ensure the device did not damage intraoral tissue. This model will allow for team members to quickly test different device configurations prior to manufacturing. Further development of the computational model is necessary to fully mimic the biological tissue.