Date: May 2008.
Source: Press Announcement.
DENVER, CO (17 May 2008) – 3dMD, the world’s market leader in 3D surface imaging systems in healthcare and provider of sophisticated 3D imaging and simulation software, today announced that internationally-renowned pioneers in the surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome Nelson B Powell, MD, DDS and Robert W Riley, MD, MS, DDS will join the 3dMD sleep advisory team, consisting of Stephen A Schendel, MD, DDS, Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University Medical Center, and David Hatcher, DDS, MSc, an internationally recognized expert in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, in its initiative to deliver a best-practice airways analysis and simulation software module to the dental and medical communities at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) 108th Annual Session in Denver (May 17-20, 2008) – Booth #1720.
“Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is pervasive in our society with a prevalence of 24% in middle aged men and 9% in middle aged women. This population suffers decrements in quality of life and increased risks of morbidity and mortality which may be lessened through early diagnosis,” said Dr Powell. “3dMD’s volumetric upper airway imaging software has the potential to save lives through its application as an assessment tool bringing orthodontics and medicine closer together for the benefit of the millions of patients with OSA who remain undiagnosed. Our team is grateful to be involved with the development of 3dMD’s software application.”
“For obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, 3dMD has implemented a business formula that combines 3dMD’s world leading software development skills with the pre-eminent foundation medical experience of Drs Powell, Riley, Hatcher and myself,” said Dr Schendel. “This means as a team we have been able to deliver the first software module solution that incorporates state-of-the art clinical/dental practice, in time for this year’s AAO conference.”
3dMD has established a state-of-the-art software architecture for exploiting the power of 3D image fusion for patient treatment planning and simulation. By building on rigorous anatomical and mathematical foundations, 3dMD has focused on making the analysis and planning process very straight-forward promoting an efficient interactive communication between all members of the treatment team throughout the patient treatment cycle. Starting with a precise 3dMD image of the patient’s face, the 3dMDvultus™ software enables users to easily generate a fused, anatomically-accurate image of the patient superimposing the internal anatomy from CT/CBCT/study models, do a full work-up of the patient’s condition, plan various treatment scenarios, and then undertake a 3D visual simulation of likely outcomes.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome Dr Powell and Dr Riley to 3dMD’s core advisory team,” said CEO Chris Lane. “Concern about the treatment of sleep disorder conditions is now an internationally recognized issue and it is vitally important that the dental and surgical community is given state-of-the-art software tools to support the highly-accurate assessment of a patient’s condition and the selection of the right treatment plan.”
Nelson B Powell, MD, DDS. Dr. Powell graduated with a DDS in 1974 from the University Of California School Of Dentistry, San Francisco, followed by medical school at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine (Seattle, Washington). He then joined the Stanford University Medical Center (Stanford, California) Department of Surgery, completing an internship and residency in Head and Neck Surgery Otolaryngology in June 1983. Dr. Powell has been associated with Stanford University Hospital for the past 29 years and is also in private practice. He holds the following academic credentials at Stanford Medical Center: Adjunct Clinical Professor of Sleep Disorders Medicine & Research, and Adjunct Clinical Professor Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Although Dr. Powell’s primary focus is the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders he continues to do maxillofacial surgery for skeletal facial deformities as well as facial plastic surgery. Dr. Powell has shared his expertise by teaching residents, fellows and post graduate physicians in the US, Europe and Asia.
Robert W Riley, MD, MS, DDS. Dr. Riley attended the University of California, San Francisco earning a D.D.S. and M.S. (Pharmacology) degrees in l972. He then attended the University of Alabama, Birmingham earning a M.D. degree in l977. Surgical specialty training included residencies in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from the University of California, Los Angeles and Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery from Stanford University. Dr. Riley has continued his clinical affiliation with the Stanford University School of Medicine since 1982. Clinical appointments include Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Clinical Associate Professor of Behavioral Science (Sleep Medicine). He is Diplomat of the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. His 25 years of clinical practice and research have revolved around surgery of the facial skeleton and airway reconstruction as it relates to sleep disordered breathing (sleep apnea).
Stephen Schendel, MD, DDS. Dr. Schendel has been a full-time faculty member of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University Medical School since 1989. He is a Professor and former Chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University Medical Center, in addition to the former Chief of Plastic Surgery at Lucille Salter Packard Children’s Hospital and Chief of Surgery. He is currently Director of the Craniofacial Surgery Program at this hospital. Board-certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Plastic Surgery, Dr Schendel is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics.
David Hatcher, DDS, MSc. Dr. Hatcher is an internationally recognized expert in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and TM disorders. In addition to his private practice (ddi Imaging Center), he holds a faculty appointment at the University of California, San Francisco, as well as lectures regularly to medical and dental organizations around the world. ddi Imaging Center is one of Northern California’s most advanced imaging centers serving the dental, medical, and orthodontic communities in the Sacramento area since 1995. Dr. Hatcher received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Washington in 1973 and was granted a specialty degree in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology in 1982 and a M.Sc. in 1983 from the graduate program in radiology at the University of Toronto. While an Associate Professor and Chairman of the Division of Radiology for five years at the University of Alberta, Dr Hatcher was the Director of the Temporomandibular Joint Investigation Unit and Clinic.