People suffering from Sleep Apnea can take a sigh of relief as Lucknow's KGMU has now received a patent for its device, developed to measure the accurate gap between upper and lower jaw. Sleep Apnea is a serious sleep disorder which often occurs in patients with a neck diameter greater than 17 inches. The condition results in a blockage in the airway, when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses during sleep.
Till now gap measurement between the upper jaw and lower jaw is taken manually by vernier calipers from outside of the mouth, so accuracy was compromised, but now with this device, the gap will be assessed by inserting it into the mouth.Prof Pooranchand, Head Prosthodontics at KGMU
The device developed by the Prosthodontics department at KGMU helps measure this gap accurately, which is vital because it is used in making modular advancement instruments that are given to patients of Sleep Apnea. The department had applied for the patent of the device for approval in 2018, which now got the approval of the Government of India.
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