Frequently asked questions about upper airway stimulation

Inspire therapy is designed to treat patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Snoring is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea.

The long-term evaluation of a large-scale study (STAR study) showed a significant reduction in nocturnal snoring: 90% of bed partners report that their partners snore lightly or not at all with Inspire therapy.¹ If you or your partner are affected by sleep apnoea, your healthcare provider can determine if the snoring is due to OSA.

¹ Woodson, BT, Strohl, K P, Soose, R J et al. Upper Airway Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: 5-Year Outcomes. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2018; 159(1):194-202.

Usually, the Inspire system should be checked once or twice a year. However, depending on your individual situation and the course of the disease, your doctor may decide to examine you more or less often.

The healing and recovery phase after surgery varies as everyone is different. For a few days after the implantation, you should expect slight pain and swelling in the areas of the incisions, but your surgeon or nurse will guide you on caring for these to enable a healthy healing process. Depending on your overall health and condition, most patients go home after one overnight stay, and some patients go home the same day.

You should be able to resume your normal activities within a few days after the procedure. You can usually eat normally again the day after the operation. You should avoid strenuous physical activities, such as heavy lifting, for about two weeks, depending on your surgeon’s instructions. About a week after the procedure, you will be examined by your doctor to check the wounds and the healing process. Most patients are fully recovered within a few weeks.

Always refer to your doctor for specific guidance.

The battery will normally last between 8 and 11 years. The device placed under the skin in the chest is the only part to replace when the battery is empty. This involves a short surgical procedure to replace this part.

Usually, the system does not interfere with your normal daily activities. For particularly strenuous activities, such as weight lifting, or activities involving a large or unpredictable range of motion of the upper body and/or arms, such as working as a firefighter, please talk to your consultant. They will be able to advise you in detail.

All patients treated with Inspire therapy are permitted to undergo various imaging procedures such as a full-body computed tomography (CT) scans, ultrasounds and X-rays.

Patients with the current Inspire model 3028 can have full-body MRI scans performed provided specific guidelines are followed. To find out which Inspire model you have, please ask your doctor or check your patient ID card. There is a yellow MRI triangle on the back of the patient ID card if you have the Inspire model 3028.

If there is no yellow MRI triangle on the back of the patient ID card, you have Inspire Model 3024 and are not eligible for MRI examinations.

If an MRI procedure is recommended, it is best to discuss your options with your doctor.

Click here for our full MRI guidelines: https://manuals.inspiresleep.com/

Yes, Inspire is available on the NHS and is continuing to expand across many hospitals in England.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you should speak with your GP or sleep specialist about being referred for an Inspire consultation with a qualified clinician.

To find out more, talk to our Medical Support Team who can support and guide you.