Abstract: Apparatus for providing breathing assistance, the apparatus including a body for positioning within an oral cavity of a user, the body defining at least one first opening for allowing airflow between lips of the user, two second openings provided in the oral cavity to allow air flow into and out of a posterior region of the oral cavity and two channels, each channel connecting a respective second opening to the at least one first opening and each channel passing at least one of at least partially along the buccal cavity and at least partially between the teeth to thereby provide an airway for the user, the airway at least partially bypassing the nasal passage and acting to replicate a healthy nasal passage and pharyngeal space.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for the simulation of the upper airway of a subject. One embodiments provides a method (100) including the initial step (101) of receiving one or more tomographic images of the subject. At step (102) a three dimensional geometric model of the upper airway is generated from the one or more tomographic images. The geometric model includes a network of interconnected deformable mesh elements collectively defining a fluid domain (310) and a solid domain (320). The solid domain (320) defining a single unitary model of the entire upper airway region segmented into a plurality of predefined geometric regions, each being defined by one or more common anatomical parameters. At step (103), a computer simulation is performed on the geometric model to simulate behaviour of the upper airway when the subject is positioned in a predefined position.

Abstract: A breathing assistance apparatus including a body shaped to be at least partially positioned within the oral cavity of a user, the body including: a bite configured to receive teeth of the user in use; an extra-oral opening that extends between lips of the user; an intra-oral opening provided in the oral cavity to allow airflow into and/or out of a posterior region of the oral cavity; and, at least one airway wall configured to define in combination with the bite an enclosed airway extending between the extra-oral and intra-oral openings.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing breathing assistance, the apparatus including a body for positioning within an oral cavity of a user, the body defining at least one first opening for allowing airflow between lips of the user, two second openings provided in the oral cavity to allow air flow into and out of a posterior region of the oral cavity and two channels, each channel connecting a respective second opening to the at least one first opening and each channel passing at least one of at least partially along the buccal cavity and at least partially between the teeth to thereby provide an airway for the user, the airway at least partially bypassing the nasal passage and acting to replicate a healthy nasal passage and pharyngeal space.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for breathing assistance that includes a body for positioning within an oral cavity of a user, the body defining at least one first opening for allowing airflow between lips of the user. Two second openings are provided in the oral cavity to allow air flow into and out of a posterior region of the oral cavity and two channels, each channel connecting a respective second opening to the at least one first opening and each channel passing at least one of at least partially along the buccal cavity and at least partially between the teeth to thereby provide an airway for the user. The airway at least partially bypasses the nasal passage and acts to replicate a healthy nasal passage and pharyngeal space.

Abstract: A method of minimising distortion in a workpiece is described that includes utilizing a computer system to carry out finite element analysis on a finite element thermo-mechanical model of the workpiece during and after fabrication by additive manufacturing to predict shape distortion and residual stress development in the workpiece, wherein the fabrication includes the fabrication step of depositing multiple layers of a material melted by a heat source along a deposit path on a substrate, and introducing alterations to the workpiece prior to or during fabrication to compensate for the predicted distortion.

Abstract: A method of minimising distortion in a workpiece is described that includes utilizing a computer system to carry out finite element analysis on a finite element thermo-mechanical model of the workpiece during and after fabrication by additive manufacturing to predict shape distortion and residual stress development in the workpiece, wherein the fabrication includes the fabrication step of depositing multiple layers of a material melted by a heat source along a deposit path on a substrate, and introducing alterations to the workpiece prior to or during fabrication to compensate for the predicted distortion.

Abstract: A method of minimizing distortion in a workpiece is described that includes utilizing a computer system to carry out finite element analysis on a finite element thermo-mechanical model of the workpiece during and after fabrication by additive manufacturing to predict shape distortion and residual stress development in the workpiece, wherein the fabrication includes the fabrication step of depositing multiple layers of a material melted by a heat source along a deposit path on a substrate, and introducing alterations to the workpiece prior to or during fabrication to compensate for the predicted distortion.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for breathing assistance that includes a body for positioning within an oral cavity of a user, the body defining at least one first opening for allowing airflow between lips of the user. Two second openings are provided in the oral cavity to allow air flow into and out of a posterior region of the oral cavity and two channels, each channel connecting a respective second opening to the at least one first opening and each channel passing at least one of at least partially along the buccal cavity and at least partially between the teeth to thereby provide an airway for the user. The airway at least partially bypasses the nasal passage and acts to replicate a healthy nasal passage and pharyngeal space.

Abstract: A method of minimising distortion in a workpiece is described that includes utilizing a computer system to carry out finite element analysis on a finite element thermo-mechanical model of the workpiece during and after fabrication by additive manufacturing to predict shape distortion and residual stress development in the workpiece, wherein the fabrication includes the fabrication step of depositing multiple layers of a material melted by a heat source along a deposit path on a substrate, and introducing alterations to the workpiece prior to or during fabrication to compensate for the predicted distortion.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding molten metal to a plurality of moulds, the apparatus comprising a plurality of reservoirs for supplying molten metal to the plurality of moulds under gravity and at least one channel for supplying molten metal to the plurality of reservoirs through an entry port in each reservoir, each channel having an inlet through which molten metal may enter the channel and an opposing end wall, wherein at least one of the channels reduces in width from its inlet to its end wall.