Approximately 18 million Americans experience obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder that can cause serious problems such as excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue, memory loss and lack of concentration. These individuals have an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.
While CPAP therapy is the preferred treatment method, not everybody can tolerate this. Individuals looking for an alternative treatment for their sleep apnea might find relief from Inspire therapy.
Get a good night’s sleep with Inspire, an innovative treatment for sleep apnea—no CPAP required. Puget Sound ENT is one of the leading Inspire clinics in the country and is ready to support your journey to a better night’s sleep!
Sleep Care Built Around You
There is no single approach to sleep apnea that works for everyone.
Some patients do well with CPAP. Others may be exploring an alternative after struggling with a mask or continuing to experience symptoms. For some, the anatomy of the airway may make Inspire therapy or another procedure worth considering.
Our role is to help you understand those choices—not to push you toward a particular treatment.
We take time to review your experience, answer your questions and help you understand the benefits, considerations and next steps associated with each option.
Inspire® Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
For some people with obstructive sleep apnea who have difficulty using or benefiting from CPAP therapy, Inspire® may provide another treatment option.
Inspire® works inside the body to support the airway during sleep. Our certified Inspire® providers can help determine whether the therapy may be appropriate based on your diagnosis, previous treatment experience, anatomy and other clinical factors.
Our certified Inspire providers include Dr. Michael Wolfe, Dr. Anne Lowery and Dr. Cole Rodman.
What Is Inspire?
Inspire is an implantable device, similar to a pacemaker, that monitors your breathing patterns while you sleep. It delivers mild stimulation to the nerve that controls movement of the tongue and airway muscles, keeping the airway open and preventing OSA.
The device contains three parts: a small generator, a breathing sensor lead and a stimulation lead. Patients use a small handheld remote to control the device, turning it on or off and pausing it during the night if needed. The stimulation is typically painless, and its strength can always be adjusted using the remote if needed.
How Is Inspire Used?
The Inspire device is implanted during an outpatient surgical procedure using general anesthesia. It is placed beneath the skin of the neck and chest via three small incisions. Most patients recover fully from surgery within a couple of weeks.
A recent three-year study concluded that many patients noted significant improvements in their quality of life and daytime functioning abilities. Seventy-eight percent of patients experienced a reduction in OSA, and 80 percent reported soft or no snoring.
Candidates for Inspire must have been diagnosed with moderate to severe OSA and are unable to benefit from PAP therapy. They must not be significantly overweight.
Watch Dr. Wolfe discuss Inspire Therapy on KING 5’s New Day Northwest.
Call Puget Sound ENT for more information or to schedule an appointment.