You have sleep apnea, and have not had success with your CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure). You might be a candidate for Inspire®, an implantable system you control with a handheld remote, which keeps the airway open during sleep.
Washington University neurologist Brendan Lucey, MD, sleep medicine specialist, explains, “During sleep the muscles and soft tissues of the throat can relax, block the airway and cause apnea events. Inspire is a device that works from inside the body and syncs with the patient’s natural breathing patterns.
The Inspire system consists of a device powered by a small battery that is placed under the skin of the neck and chest during an outpatient surgical procedure. Patients simply turn it on when they go to bed and off when they wake up. The implantable system delivers mild stimulation to move the tongue and other key airway muscles out of the airway, allowing the patient to breathe throughout the night.”
Inspire therapy is for people who:
- Have been diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- Struggle with or cannot get consistent benefit from CPAP treatment
- Are not significantly overweight
- Are over age 22
Risks associated with the surgical implant procedure are low but may include infection and temporary tongue weakness. Most patients acclimate well to the presence of the Inspire system and to the therapeutic stimulation.
To watch a video on the Inspire airway stimulation therapy system, visit the Sleep Medicine Center website
For more information, or to make an appointment with Dr. Lucey or any of his colleagues, please call 314-362-4342.
Sleep Medicine Center
1600 S. Brentwood Blvd., Suite 600
St. Louis, MO 63144