Inspire Sleep Apnea Therapy
Do You Struggle With CPAP? Ask Us About Inspire.
Sleep Centers of Middle Tennessee now offers Inspire therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. To discover if Inspire is a good alternative sleep apnea treatment for you, contact us at 629-335-3841.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Without A Mask
Sleep Centers of Middle Tennessee now offers Inspire, an alternative solution for sleep apnea sufferers who cannot tolerate CPAP treatment.
Inspire is an FDA-approved treatment that offers maskless relief from obstructive sleep apnea. A small device is inserted inside your body during a simple outpatient surgery and treats the root cause of sleep apnea.
How Does Inspire Work?
Inspire is an upper airway stimulation therapy that works inside the body to promote natural breathing and prevent snoring and an obstructed airway. A small device monitors your breathing and sends an impulse to the tongue during every breath to keep the airway open for oxygen while you sleep.
How Does Inspire Work?
Inspire is an upper airway stimulation therapy that works inside the body to promote natural breathing and prevent snoring and an obstructed airway. A small device monitors your breathing and sends an impulse to the tongue during every breath to keep the airway open for oxygen while you sleep.
What happens before, during, and after Inspire sleep apnea treatment?
Before Inspire can be approved and implanted in a minor outpatient procedure to treat your obstructive sleep apnea, we’re here to provide testing and sleep apnea care leading up to surgery.
In order for you to qualify for Inspire, you must meet certain age and weight requirements with diagnosed moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea. If you meet these qualifications, you must also demonstrate you’re unable to use or get consistent benefit from CPAP therapy.
To meet this final qualification, CPAP treatment is administered by Sleep Centers of Middle Tennessee. We provide all necessary sleep testing and sleep apnea care prior to outpatient surgery to implant the Inspire device. If CPAP fails, you’re referred to a surgeon to implant the device and will schedule your 30-day follow-up.
After your 30-day follow-up, we activate and calibrate the device for you based on a post-implant sleep study. We then continue to monitor the device with regular check-ins every six months.Do you want to know if Inspire for sleep apnea is right for you?
Here are some frequently asked questions we get from people who want to better understand how Inspire works and if it’s a viable alternative to CPAP therapy.
Q: What is Inspire for sleep apnea, and how does it work?
During outpatient surgery, a small nerve stimulator device (Inspire) and battery pack are implanted under the skin in the chest. An electronic lead connects the device to the nerve that stimulates the tongue. Another electronic lead connects to a space in the ribs near the diaphragm. Once both are connected, the device monitors your breathing and sends an impulse to the tongue during every breath to keep the airway open for oxygen while you sleep.
Q: Will Inspire therapy help with snoring?
A: It can. Inspire clinical trials reported that 85% of bed partners indicated their partners experienced no snoring or soft snoring when using Inspire sleep apnea therapy.
Q: Is Inspire a better option than CPAP therapy?
A: Inspire is an FDA-approved obstructive sleep apnea treatment available to patients who have tried CPAP but are unable to tolerate CPAP therapy. For Inspire patients who are unable to use CPAP, 91% report satisfaction with Inspire, and 94% would recommend Inspire to others.
Q: How do I know if I'm a candidate for Inspire?
A: Are you 18 years of age or older, fall within the normal range for BMI, and are diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea? If yes, you may be a candidate and qualify for Inspire. Once you meet the above qualifications, you’ll be required to first attempt CPAP therapy. You must be unable to tolerate CPAP treatment before Inspire can be approved as a viable option.
Q: What does the stimulation feel like?
A: Gentle stimulation is administered to move your tongue forward and keep the airway open. It’s designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea without disturbing your sleep and should never feel painful or uncomfortable.
Q: How much does the Inspire implant cost?
A: Your cost will vary based on your individual insurance plan. Contact us for more information.
Q: Are there additional costs associated with Inspire?
A: Yes. There are additional costs associated with the Inspire device both before and after outpatient surgery. As an Inspire partner, Sleep Centers of Middle Tennessee provides all care prior to outpatient surgery when the device is implanted. After implantation, we activate and configure the device based on your in-lab sleep study and are responsible for all monitoring and follow-up appointments to ensure it’s working as intended.
Q: Is Inspire covered by insurance?
A: Yes, most major insurance companies cover the cost of Inspire. An Inspire-trained doctor can discuss insurance coverage requirements during an initial consultation. The additional costs associated, which include sleep tests and pre and post-surgery appointments, are also covered by most major USA insurance companies. However, every insurance plan is unique, and coverage varies. Expect to pay required copays and any unmet deductible for the year.
Q: How long does Inspire last?
A: Inspire is a battery-operated device. The batteries are designed to last eleven years and are replaced during an outpatient procedure when they begin to run low.
Q: How long is the recovery time after surgery?
A: Everyone’s recovery time after surgery is different. Most patients are released the same day and take over-the-counter medication to reduce any pain or swelling that may occur for a few days at the small incision sites. Within a few days, you should be able to resume normal, non-strenuous activities, and expect a full recovery within a couple of weeks.
Do You Have Additional Questions Or Want To Discuss With A Specialist Whether Inspire Is An Option For You?
We’re here to help and answer all of your questions. The first step is to schedule a consultation by calling us at 629-335-3841. We can evaluate your overall health status and determine if Inspire therapy might be a suitable alternative for you.What Inspire Patients Say
