Inspire Therapy

Home | For Patients | Inspire Therapy

Inspire Upper Airway Stimulator

Introducing Inspire® Therapy. Tower Sleep Medicine is now certified to offer Inspire therapy. Inspire therapy is a new, clinically-proven treatment option approved by the FDA for people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Our doctors and staff are equipped to counsel and help you determine if you would be a good candidate for this treatment option.

Inspire therapy is specifically designed for people with moderate to severe OSA who cannot use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). While CPAP and oral appliances work from “the outside in” during sleep to prevent your tongue and other soft tissues from relaxing and obstructing your airway, Inspire® therapy works from “the inside out.” Inspire therapy is a small, fully implanted system that continuously monitors your breathing patterns during sleep. Based on your unique breathing patterns, the system delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles, which keeps the airway open.

Among its many advantages, Inspire therapy is fully implanted, does not require a mask or oral appliance, works with your body’s natural anatomy, and is simple and easy to use. Contact us for more details.

You’re eligible for Inspire Therapy if you…

Are diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
Can’t use a CPAP machine.
Don’t get consistent results or benefits from a CPAP machine.
Are not obese.
Are over 21 years of age.

How does Inspire Therapy work?

Inspire is a small implanted device that ensures your airway stays open all night using a gentle pulse. The device is implanted inside your body with three small incisions in an outpatient procedure with no downtime. After the surgical procedure, you work with the sleep doctor to fine-tune the Inspire device according to your unique needs and preferences.

Once the device is adjusted, you have to simply press a single button to activate the Inspire implant, letting it monitor your breathing while you sleep. Whenever you take a breath, the device releases a gentle pulse to move your tongue out of the way, allowing you to breathe freely and sleep soundly.

When you wake up feeling fresh and rested, you can press the button in your controller to turn it off. Once you turn the device off, it will stop monitoring your breathing, and you can resume your daily activities feeling well-rested and comfortable.

Schedule a
Consultation

What are the benefits of Inspire Therapy?

Inspire treats the root cause of obstructive sleep apnea.
You can start sleeping without a mask or tubes.
The Inspire implantation is done in a single outpatient procedure.
You can turn the system on/off with the click of a button.
The Inspire device is designed to last 11 years.

How does Inspire feel?

Inspire is a small implanted device that lives within your body. When it’s deactivated, you don’t even realize it’s there. When it’s activated, it sends small pulses to stimulate the motor nerves controlling your tongue, moving your tongue out of the way. The stimulation is gentle enough that your tongue moves out of the way without your conscious awareness. There’s no pain or discomfort, and it doesn’t disrupt your sleep at all.

Does Inspire limit my activities?

Inspire doesn’t limit your activities or life in any form. You can resume all your normal activities as usual. You can also go for MRI exams for various parts of the body without any issue, though you should always inform your doctors about your Inspire implant. You can also get an Inspire if you have a pacemaker.

What happens if the Inspire battery runs out?

The Inspire battery runs for around 11 years, so you don’t need to worry about the battery running out for a while. Once the battery runs out, you can easily replace it with a single outpatient procedure. You should also get the Inspire system inspected by your sleep doctor once or twice a year to ensure it’s working optimally.

Does Inspire prevent snoring?

Inspire doesn’t actively target snoring — that’s not the intended goal. However, most patients report a significant decrease in snoring as a welcome secondary effect. 90% of the patients’ bed partners report either no snoring at all or gentle snoring.

Find out more about the Inspire® Therapy and how it can benefit you, contact us today.