# Using vortical airflow to pressurize the upper airway without a tight seal during CPAP therapy

> **NIH NIH R33** · UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI · 2024 · $235,096

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Despite the clinical effectiveness of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) for obstructive sleep apnea
(OSA), patient compliance with the therapy remains a major cause of treatment failure. This chronic sleep-related
breathing disorder that affects 5-10% of the population is associated with various serious adverse outcomes,
including cardiovascular diseases. OSA involves a decrease or complete halt in airflow despite an ongoing
breathing effort. It occurs when muscles relax during sleep, causing soft tissues in the posterior pharynx to
collapse and obstruct the upper airway. CPAP, which is broadly considered first-line therapy for OSA, keeps the
upper airway open with positive airway pressure to prevent airway obstruction by the collapse of the soft tissues.
However, CPAP requires a tight seal between the mask and the patient's face closed system to maintain airway
pressure. Although effective when used consistently, CPAP is not well tolerated by many patients largely due to
the discomfort of the tight-fitting mask of current devices.
A promising new development derives from our recent work based on the re-application of “vortical airflow,” a
flow control mechanism commonly used in aerospace engineering applications. The unique aerodynamic
properties of vortical airflow enable it to pressurize the upper airways without the need for a tight-fitting mask.
The current project is designed to accomplish two critical milestones. First, the current prototype will be advanced
to function as a stand-alone unit with an overall size similar to currently marketed CPAP devices. Second, it will
demonstrate that the nasal interface of the new prototype is more comfortable than CPAP masks.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10799623
- **Project number:** 5R33HL161814-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
- **Principal Investigator:** Liran Oren
- **Activity code:** R33 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $235,096
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-03-05 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10799623

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10799623, Using vortical airflow to pressurize the upper airway without a tight seal during CPAP therapy (5R33HL161814-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10799623. Licensed CC0.

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