Inspire Sleep Apnea Therapy

Treating sleep apnea with Inspire

Inspire upper airway stimulation gives those who suffer from sleep apnea the freedom to sleep like everyone else, without a CPAP machine.

Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, affects almost 18 million Americans. OSA doesn’t just interrupt sleep. Left untreated, it can lead to devastating effects on heart and brain health and have lasting effects on quality of life.

Traditionally, OSA is treated primarily with continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. However, research indicates that some people do not respond well to CPAP therapy and that long-term adherence to CPAP therapy is less than 50 percent.

Ideal candidates for Inspire upper airway stimulation therapy:

• Have been diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, indicated by an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) between and 15 and 65
• Have tried and struggled with or cannot get consistent benefit from CPAP treatment
• Are not significantly overweight

Inspire at a glance

The Inspire upper airway stimulation therapy system consists of a stimulation lead and a breathing sensor powered by a small battery.

During the outpatient procedure, the system is placed under the skin in the neck and chest through three small incisions.

There’s no uncomfortable mask or hose. Patients remain in control of their treatment.

A small handheld Inspire remote is used to turn on the therapy system before bed, and off after waking.

Clinically proven

Studies have found that patients using Inspire therapy have significant and sustained:

• Reductions in sleep apnea episodes
• Increased activity levels
• Reduced daytime sleepiness
• Significant decrease in snoring

Will insurance cover Inspire?

In most instances, if a patient meets the criteria for Inspire, insurance will provide coverage for the device.

Inspire Excellence Member

Dr. Robert Sonnenburg has been designated an Inspire Excellence Surgeon. The award is given to recognize excellence in three areas of Inspire: Expertise, Patient Experience, and Clinical outcomes. Only 50 surgeons out of the current 1,000 eligible Inspire surgeons nation-wide have been designated Physicians of Excellence. Dr. Sonnenburg is one of only two Wisconsin Inspire surgeons to receive this honor and has been offering Inspire since 2019.