Inspire therapy at a glance
Upper airway stimulation is a new, innovative technology and an alternative for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea who cannot use CPAP ventilation or related procedures, or for whom this treatment is not sufficiently effective.
The Inspire system consists of three implantable components: a small generator, a breathing sensor and a stimulation electrode, which are controlled together via a small remote control.
Careful selection of patients, targeted stimulation of specific airway muscles and optimal timing of hypoglossal stimulation are key to keeping the airways open during sleep and achieving the best possible outcome for patients.
How it works
The right solution
The right patient
Inspire therapy is suitable for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea (with an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) of 15 to 65/h), who cannot use CPAP therapy or for whom it is not sufficiently effective. A complete-concentration collapse at the level of the soft palate must be ruled out beforehand. A sleep video endoscopy is required for this.
The right stimulation
The design of the Inspire stimulation electrode is such that it can be adapted to different anatomical courses of the hypoglossal nerve (XII). Fixing the stimulation electrode in the optimal position at the distal end of the hypoglossal nerve allows stable, continuous stimulation of specific muscles of the airway. This opens the lumen at the level of the base of the tongue and the soft palate.
The right time
Using a special algorithm, Inspire therapy continuously monitors the patient’s breathing rhythm and produces targeted stimulation during inspiration and late exhalation, when the airways are most vulnerable to collapse.
Treatment with Inspire therapy
The Inspire system is implanted during a short inpatient stay. After the procedure, which takes about two hours, you may experience common post-operative symptoms such as mild pain and swelling in the areas of the incisions. However, within a few days after the procedure, patients are usually able to resume normal physical activities. About one month after implantation, a follow-up visit to the practice or outpatient clinic takes place to determine the individual stimulation settings and to train patients in the use of the remote control. After another four weeks of acclimatisation, the system is fine-tuned in the sleep laboratory.
Good reasons for Inspire therapy
- Less invasive than traditional surgical OSA procedures
- Natural anatomy of the airways is preserved
- Designed to keep the airways open at different levels during sleep
- Clinically proven reduction of sleep apnoea episodes and improvement of quality of life
- The latest generation of devices (Neurostimulator 3028) is now also MRI-compatible under certain conditions (head, neck and extremities can be examined by means of MRI)
You can find instructions for use of the Inspire therapy for you and your patients on our eManual portal.