Inspire Therapy: Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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If you think you'd be a good candidate for Inspire Therapy, speak with your primary care provider or click below to see if you qualify.

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A man lies sleeping on his side in bed with the remote for his Inspire Therapy device on the nightstand next to him.

For millions of Americans living with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), CPAP is the most common treatment.

While CPAP can lead to great results when used as directed, many patients struggle to use their CPAP machine regularly or simply can’t tolerate CPAP therapy.

Rather than simply living with OSA and the myriad health concerns that come with it, there’s another option for these patients: Inspire Therapy.

Inspire Therapy: A CPAP alternative

Inspire is an FDA-approved, surgically implanted device that stimulates the hypoglossal nerve, which controls the tongue and other airway muscles.

For patients with OSA, these muscles relax during sleep to the point that they narrow or obstruct the airway, leading to snoring, gasping, or choking, which disrupt sleep.

Inspire works by continuously monitoring the patient’s breathing during sleep and using stimulating pulses to move the tongue and airway muscles out of the way, ensuring proper airflow.

These pulses occur automatically, allowing patients to breathe and sleep without interruption. Patients simply turn the device on prior to sleep using a small remote, then turn it off upon waking up.

Screenshot of an animated video showing how Inspire Therapy works, with a cartoon patient lying asleep and arrows illustrating airflow

How does Inspire Therapy work?

By stimulating the hypoglossal nerve, Inspire helps keep the airway clear, allowing for uninterrupted breathing.

This short video explains how this innovative sleep apnea implant works.
Watch Now
Brian, an Inspire Therapy patient, sits for an interview sharing his experience using Inspire Therapy

“I probably went through at least five or six different masks.”

After being diagnosed with OSA, Brian found himself struggling to effectively use CPAP.

Inspire proved to be a more convenient, effective solution for Brian, drastically improving his sleep, energy level, and relationships.
Watch Now

Frequently asked questions about Inspire Therapy

In order to be a good candidate for Inspire, you must:

  • Have a diagnosis of moderate to severe OSA
  • Have trouble tolerating or getting consistent benefits from using CPAP

You also must be 18 years of age or older and must not be significantly obese. 

Inspire implantation requires an outpatient surgery conducted under general anesthesia. The procedure normally takes two to three hours.

During the procedure, the surgeon will make two small incisions just under the skin: one in the upper-right chest, where the device is placed, and one at the location of the hypoglossal nerve, just under the chin.

After the procedure, you may experience pain or swelling at the incision site. You should be able to resume normal, nonstrenuous activities after just a few days.

You should avoid all strenuous activities until cleared by your doctor, normally about two weeks after the procedure.

It’s important to note that the time frames above are estimates, as every patient recovers from surgical procedures at a different pace.

Inspire patients report feeling a mild tingling sensation or mild contraction in the tongue muscles when turning on Inspire prior to going to sleep.

After Inspire starts up, the device delays stimulation for a predetermined length of time to allow patients to fall asleep. Once the stimulation resumes, you are asleep and shouldn’t feel anything. 

This sensation is not enough to wake you from sleep and should not be painful or disruptive. The overall level of feeling may vary depending on the sensitivity of the individual.

Inspire will remain turned off for four to six weeks after implantation to allow the incisions to heal. 

During that period, you’ll see your doctor approximately one week after surgery to ensure the incisions are healing properly. You’ll also have an appointment to program Inspire with initial settings and to learn how to use your Inspire remote control.

Once cleared by your doctor, you’ll begin to use Inspire on a nightly basis. 

You’ll be able to adjust Inspire’s settings, including increasing or decreasing the strength of stimulation, until you reach the point where you are having a restful night’s sleep.

After 12 weeks of regular at-home use, you’ll have an overnight sleep study. This will allow a certified sleep technologist to observe your sleep and fine-tune your Inspire settings to ensure optimal treatment of your OSA.

From there, all you need to do is turn Inspire on when you’re ready to go to sleep! Most patients have check-in appointments with their doctors once or twice a year after Inspire is up and running.

Inspire’s batteries last approximately 11 years and can be replaced during a brief outpatient procedure.

Most major insurance providers cover Inspire. Patients should verify coverage prior to scheduling any appointments.

If you engage in particularly strenuous activities, either for leisure or for your job, you should disclose those to your doctor prior to starting with Inspire.

These may include weightlifting or jobs that require an unpredictable range of motion for your upper body or arms.

Individuals with an Inspire implant should avoid scuba diving/free diving below 100 feet and should not enter hyperbaric chambers above 4.0 atmospheres absolute.

Inspire is safe for security screening devices, though it may set off some metal detectors. Inspire patients should carry their Inspire ID card at all times to limit disruption at security screenings.

Inspire patients can undergo most standard medical imaging procedures, including CT scans, ultrasounds, MRI, and x-rays. 

Meet our Inspire Therapy care team

Dr. Jami Johnsen, Neurology

Jami H Johnsen, MD

Neurology
A professional headshot of Robin Pappal, MD of South Shore Health

Robin B Pappal, MD

Otolaryngology
A man smiles as he sits up in bed holding his Inspire Therapy remote. His wife is asleep next to him.

Interested in Inspire Therapy? Get started!

Individuals interested in Inspire Therapy should speak with their primary care provider to determine if Inspire is a fit for their unique health situation.

In addition, you can take Inspire's "Do I Qualify?" quiz below to determine your eligibility.
Do I Qualify?