Mandibular advancement device (MAD®) to treat sleet apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome and chronic snoring

Abstract

This paper presents a structural and clinical validation of Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD), whose design was inspired by a need detected in patients suffering from Sleep Apnoea-Hypopnoea Syndrome and/or chronic snoring. The main objective of MAD is to advance or move the jaw with respect to the maxilla, in order to keep the airway open or released to a sufficient degree, in such a manner that its fortuitous or unconscious closure is prevented. It is, therefore, an effective device to treat Sleep Apnoea-Hypopnoea Syndrome and chronic snoring. The validation of MAD was conducted in two different ways: (1) Structurally, by applying the finite element model, which evidenced aptness from a structural point of view, in terms of resistance, as required by the MAD load. This study had not been developed to date in any MAD. (2) Clinically, by carrying out polisomnographic tests (40 patients); and statistically by analyses, which registered significant results (p<0,05) in patients using MADs. The use of MAD resulted in an average increase in the volume of the upper airway of 34% in the patients studied. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.