¶ … Invention and Summarize the Significance of the Underlying Technology Innovation The device titled the Thornton Adjustable Positioner or TAP is an oral/dental device worn in the patient's mouth during sleep to move the lower jaw slightly forward to create an open airway for proper breathing while sleeping. The device or some like them have been previously tried on minor sleep disturbances such as snoring, yet, their efficacy has been unknown for more serious problems such as mild to severe sleep apnea. Sleep apnea, a disorder that creates oxygen deprivation during sleep and can moderately to severely affect the health of the individual first by depriving the individual of restful sleep and in more severe cases by creating oxygen deprivation that can lead to other chronic diseases or even acute death from asphyxia.

Up to this point the most commonly prescribed device for sleep apnea is a device that forces oxygen down the throat of the individual via a face mask. The device, known as a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine, or CPAP is costly, requires a prescription, is usually rented by the patient, produces a great deal of noise while it is running, demands maintenance and is cumbersome to wear. The TAP on the other hand is far less costly, requires no electricity or maintenance, makes no noise and can be worn in the mouth, without external visible devices. The most frustrating problem with the CPAP machine has been low patient compliance, less than or about 50% of patients who have been prescribed and obtained the CPAP report continual effective therapeutic use of the device. "What We Found Was That Many Of Our Patients With Moderate To Severe Sleep Apnea Were Not Adhering To Standard...

McLornan Said. "Although The CPAP Is Considered To Be The Gold Standard In Treating Sleep Apnea And Is Very Effective," Dr. McLornan Said, "Compliance By Patients Is Well Below 50%." (University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 2009) The TAP, on the other hand, has the potential to greatly improve both patient outcome and patient compliance as the device is far less costly and easier to use.
2. How Can You Plan For The Next Generation Technology That Might Replace Or Threaten Your Product?

The most fundamental threat to this new device would be if the CPAP was improved to a great degree and created improved compliance and ease of use. Additional, non-prescription devices say for snoring or that do the same function as the TAP could also threaten the product if they come on the market with similar claims and provide even moderate relief from sleep apnea, and do not require the small key device to align the jaw correctly to open the airway in the throat. Planning for such threats would be to make certain that the marketing of the TAP responded to the threat by making it clear that the TAP is unique, recommended by sleep apnea specialists and available by prescription, approved by the FDA as the only viable treatment for sleep apnea of its kind. Additionally, other products have been patented that are composites of moldable materials, they then conform to a variety of dentifrices and pallets and do not require dental molding and other interventions, the TAP has an unknown level of adjustment, or it is not mentioned in the above article and this may be a weakness in the product and in the marketing of it.…