The Inspire therapy procedure is a 1-2 hour outpatient surgery in which patients are placed under general anesthesia.
The first incision is made under the patient’s chin where the nerve controlling their tongue is located. A small cuff is placed on this nerve.
The second incision is made in the upper chest where the implant and breathing sensor are placed.
After the procedure, patients can expect some discomfort and swelling for a few days, but can resume more strenuous activities within a few weeks.
The Stimulation Therapy for Apnea Reduction (STAR) clinical trial began in 2010 at 22 leading medical centers across the United States and Europe. One-year STAR Trial outcome measures were published in the January 9, 2014 version of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Results showed that sleep apnea patients receiving Inspire implant experienced significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality of life measures.
The significant improvements and reductions measured after 1-year were sustained over a 5-year follow-up period. The outcomes include:
79% reduction in AHI events2
Significant improvements in daytime functioning as measured by FOSQ score2
Significant reductions in daytime sleepiness2
90% of bed partners reported soft or no snoring for their partner, as compared to only 17% of bed partners at baseline2
It is important to note that all Inspire therapy patients are eligible to have CT scans, X-Rays and ultrasound images taken anywhere in the body.
You have several options to determine what type of Inspire Generator Model is implanted in your patient:
Look at the Patient’s ID Card
Examine the patient’s medical records
Identify through X-Ray
There is a YELLOW MR TRIANGLE on the back of the Patient ID Card if your patient has the Inspire implant Generator Model 3028. If so, they are eligible for full body MRI scans provided specific guidelines are followed.
If your patient has the Inspire implant Generator Model 3024, they are not eligible for MRI scans. However, they are eligible to have CT scans, X-Rays and ultrasound images taken anywhere in the body.