What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common but serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. Normally, air flows smoothly from the nose through the throat’s flexible structures, such as the soft palate, uvula, and tongue, while the muscles keep the airway open. However, during sleep, these muscles relax but still allow the airway to remain open. Sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway becomes blocked, significantly reducing or completely stopping airflow. This blockage causes oxygen levels to drop in both the brain and the blood, leading to periods of shallow breathing or pauses in breathing.
Sleep apnea can lead to numerous health complications if left untreated, including daytime fatigue, cardiovascular issues, and impaired concentration.
An Alternative to CPAP
Inspire is a mask-free treatment option for people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) who have tried and struggled with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP).
How the Inspire Sleep Therapy Works
Inspire is a device implanted inside the body that works with a patient’s natural breathing process. Based on your unique breathing patterns, the system delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles, keeping the airway open during sleep.
Inspire is implanted during a short outpatient procedure. Most patients return home the same day and can resume non-strenuous activities within a few days or as directed by their doctor.
The Inspire system consists of a breathing sensor lead and a stimulation lead powered by a small battery. The therapy is controlled by a small handheld sleep remote, which allows the patient to turn the device on before bed and off when they wake up, increase and decrease stimulation strength, and pause during the night if needed.
Benefits of Inspire
- Treats the root cause of sleep apnea
- No mask or hose required
- Easy to use with a small handheld remote
- Track your results in the free Inspire app
Who is a Candidate?
You may be a good candidate for Inspire Therapy if you have moderate-to-severe OSA and are unable to use or get consistent benefits from CPAP. Dr. Trevor Getz, Dr. Pierre Musy, Dr. Nicholas Pritchard, or Dr. Ryan Thorwarth will evaluate your overall health status and perform a physical examination of your airway to determine if Inspire therapy might be a suitable CPAP alternative for you.