Achieved through Contour Engineering to Improve Tolerance (FACE-IT)

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Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common condition where throat muscles relax during sleep, narrowing the airway, obstructing normal breathing. Airway-narrowing can occur>100x/night causing significant health problems if untreated, including cardiovascular events and strokes. The Sleep Apnoea Trust estimate>10M people have OSA in the UK with 30% not complying with therapy. The only effective treatment uses tight-fitting face masks which provide continuous positive air pressure to splint the airways open. Unfortunately, masks are uncomfortable and people stop wearing them. If mask compliance could be increased by improving the fit, it could save lives and associated health/socioeconomic costs. Currently CPAP mask fit is assessed by experienced clinicians using off-the-shelf masks. The proposed PhD addresses a gap to improve mask design and fit assessment through the development of a high-fidelity head-form. The anatomical model will include multi-layer soft tissues, a morphable soft-robotic face to facilitate shape and rigidity adaptation in specified areas simulating fatty areas often observed with users not fitting generic mask sizes (e.g. obese or differing ethnicities). Mask designs will be tested and pressure points measured leading to quantifiable and comparative comfort testing, removing the need to test on real patients and iterate mask designs rapidly at the concept stage