Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea, breathing problems that occur during sleep, affects more than 12 million people in the US. Many ear, nose and throat problems are associated with, or even caused by undiagnosed sleep apnea.

People who suffer from sleep apnea may stop breathing or have their breathing interrupted hundreds of times during the night, resulting in fatigue and symptoms of depression. Sleep apnea causes an increased effort to breathe placing stress on the heart, lungs, blood pressure and brain. If it goes untreated, sleep apnea can lead to permanent heart and lung damage and even shorten one’s lifespan.

Inspire Therapy for Sleep Apnea

Inspire is a minimally invasive, implantable neuro-simulator that continuously monitors breathing during sleep. Based on a patient’s breathing pattern, the device delivers mild stimulation to keep key airway muscles open. The system is fully implanted in an outpatient procedure and is the most innovative treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in 20 years. It is FDA approved and clinically proven to significantly reduce sleep apnea events and improve quality of life.

How Inspire Works

Inspire works inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. Inspire delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles, allowing the airway to open during sleep. The patient uses a small handheld remote to turn Inspire on before bed and off when they wake up. No mask, no hose, just sleep.

Inspire works inside your body while you sleep. It’s a small device placed during a same-day, outpatient procedure. When you’re ready for bed, simply click the remote to turn Inspire on. While you sleep, Inspire opens your airway, allowing you to breathe normally and sleep peacefully.

Inspire is controlled by the patient using the small, handheld Inspire Sleep Remote. The Inspire Sleep Remote is used to turn Inspire on before bed and off in the morning. Additionally, the patient can pause therapy during the night if needed and increase/decrease therapy settings.

What to Expect

The Inspire system is made of a small battery and 2 small wires. Inspire is placed under the skin of the neck and chest through three small incisions during an outpatient procedure. Most patients return home the same day and return to non-strenuous activities within a few days. Over-the-counter pain medicine is typically used for a few days after the procedure for pain management.

Is Inspire Therapy Right for You?

You may be a candidate for Inspire if:

Children with sleep apnea often display hyperactive tendencies or ADHD.

What will happen at my visit to Mid-Kansas Ear, Nose & Throat?

Your physician can order a sleep study to determine if you suffer from a sleep disorder. The procedure takes place while you sleep and is painless. Sleep apnea can be treated in a number of ways based on severity. Your physician will create a treatment plan that may include an oral appliance, weight loss plan or surgery.

Call Mid-Kansas Ear, Nose & Throat Associates at 316-684-2838 for more information or to schedule an appointment.