Inspire Therapy
A Breakthrough Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
An estimated 18 million Americans live with sleep apnea, often using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to get a better night's sleep. But now there's a novel approach for treating sleep apnea that is performed by Bucks ENT Surgeons at St. Mary Medical Center.
What is Inspire therapy?
Inspire therapy is a breakthrough implantable treatment option for people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea who are unable to use or get consistent benefit from Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). While you’re sleeping, Inspire therapy monitors every breath you take. Based on your unique breathing patterns, the system delivers mild stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve which controls the movement of your tongue and other key airway muscles. By stimulating these muscles, the airway remains open during sleep.
Inspire therapy is controlled by a small handheld sleep remote. The remote allows you to turn Inspire therapy on before bed and off when you wake up, increase and decrease stimulation strength, and pause during the night if needed.
How does Inspire therapy Work?
Inspire therapy works inside your body with your natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. It continuously monitors your breathing patterns while you sleep. Based on your unique breathing patterns, the system delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles, which keeps the airway open while you sleep.
Inspire therapy is controlled by a small handheld sleep remote, and consists of three components: a small generator, a breathing sensor lead, and a stimulation lead. Simply turn the therapy on at night before bed, and off in the morning when you wake up.
Is Inspire therapy right for Me?
You might be a candidate for Inspire therapy if you:
- Have moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
- Are unable to use or get consistent benefit from CPAP.
- Are not significantly overweight.
- Are over the age of 22.
An Inspire therapy-trained doctor will also 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.
Surgical Evaluation
Your process begins with an evaluation by one of our Board Certified physicians. Your physician will determine if you are a candidate for the surgery and if Inspire therapy is right for you.
Surgery
Inspire therapy is typically implanted during an outpatient procedure under general anesthetic. The system is placed under the skin of the neck and chest through three small incisions. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks that you should be aware of. You should discuss the specifics of the procedure with your doctor.
Once all pre-operative requirements have been met, you will be scheduled for a surgical clearance appointment with your surgeon and obtain approval from your insurance. Your surgery will be scheduled at St. Mary Medical Center.
Follow-up
Follow-up appointments will be an essential part of your post-surgical care. After the procedure, patients wait for approximately 30 days to allow for the incisions to heal. Then they return to their physician, who activates Inspire therapy. (remove the device). Once activated, patients (remove can) use a hand-held remote control (remove device) to turn Inspire therapy on before they go to sleep each night and off when they wake up. They can also pause the device as needed. (remove and turn it off in the morning). The battery pack is designed to last 11+ years, much like a pacemaker.
Why choose Bucks ENT Associates?
We provide expert care in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with Inspire therapy. Our board-certified surgeons have the experience and skill to complete your procedure and get you back to your day-to-day activities in no time. We partner with you – before, during and after surgery – on your journey back to restful sleep.
How do I get started with
Inspire therapy at Bucks ENT?
If you are interested in the treatment, you will be guided through a comprehensive process that has been developed to promote the best outcome for you. Please give us a call at 267-689-1000 to get started.
