Sleep is essential to your everyday function and vitality. If you suffer from sleep apnea and do not benefit from CPAP, Inspire therapy sleep therapy might be just the answer to ensure you get a restful night’s sleep.
How Does Sleep Therapy Work?
Working with your body’s own natural processes, Inspire therapy monitors your unique breathing patterns in order to provide targeted stimulation to specific muscles, keeping the airway open during sleep.
Incredibly easy to use, the Inspire system is controlled by a small remote that you turn on at night and off once you wake up in the morning. There is nothing for you to program or remember.
There are only three parts to this specialized system: your breathing sensor, the stimulation lead and a small generator.
What Does the Stimulation Feel Like?
Stimulation delivers a light tingling sensation with mild contractions of the tongue muscles. It is neither painful nor uncomfortable and can be adjusted as needed.
What Does the Procedure Involve?
Through a simple, outpatient surgical procedure, the Inspire therapy system is implanted under the skin of the neck and chest via three small incisions. The Inspire battery is non-rechargeable but is designed to last for around 11 years. Once it runs out, it must be replaced as with any other implanted device. Checkups are recommended once or twice per year as determined by your doctor.
How Long is Recovery?
Recovery time varies from person to person. Mild pain and swelling at the incisions sites are common for a few days and can be treated with over-the-counter pain medicine. Most people return home the same day as their procedure and are able to resume non-strenuous activities in a few days. Full recovery can be expected within several weeks.
Will Inspire Sleep Therapy Help with Snoring?
Inspire boasts a high success rate. According to research from the STAR clinical trial, 86 percent of those living with someone diagnosed with sleep apnea reported either no snoring or only soft snoring after using Inspire for just 12 months.
Who is a Candidate for Inspire?
Your Inspire therapy doctor will do a full evaluation of your sleep apnea history and overall health, including cardiovascular function. Having a pacemaker does not disqualify you from this unique therapy. Discuss any strenuous activities that you regularly participate in with your doctor.
Inspire patients can still undergo most imaging tests, including full-body CT scans, ultrasound, and X-rays.
Does the Department of Transportation Approve of Inspire Therapy?
The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that all commercial drivers are compliant with recommended sleep apnea treatments in order to maintain their status as a licensed driver. As with CPAP, your Inspire doctor can provide a usage record to prove complete compliance.
Is Inspire Covered by Insurance?
As with most health conditions, insurance coverage and approval is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The team at Inspire does everything possible to ensure that you are covered. Over 70 percent of those who seek insurance coverage receive it.
You are only responsible for any unmet deductible as well as your copay or coinsurance surgery fee. The procedure will not be scheduled until all insurance matters are completely ironed out, and no prior approval is needed to come in for your initial clinic visit.
Dr. Jeffrey Phillips | Accent Sleep Solutions | 4340 West Newberry Road, Suite 301 | Gainesville, FL 32607 | (352) 372-9414 | Map & Directions | FB | TW | GP
