Researchers in Australia have 3D printed a mouthpiece designed to combat one of the most common sleeping disorders in the United States—sleep apnea.
Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and Australian dental company Oventus have discovered a way to 3D print a mouthpiece that can prevent dangerous pauses in breath during sleep.
The scientists used a 3D scanner to create a map of the patient's mouth,according to Medical Xpress, and used the results to print titanium-built mouthpiece coated with medical-grade plastic.
The device features a duckbill that extends from the wearer's mouth like a whistle. This creates two separate airways, which allows air to avoid obstructions in the nose, back of the mouth, and tongue by traveling through the back of the wearer's throat.