Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about Inspire® therapy by reading the frequently asked questions below:
Learning about Inspire therapy
When we sleep, our airway muscles and tongue relax. For people with obstructive sleep apnea, the tongue relaxes into a position that blocks the airway. The small Inspire® implant (placed during a short and safe outpatient procedure1*) delivers gentle pulses to your airway muscles to keep your airway open while you sleep so you can breathe regularly and sleep soundly.
Inspire therapy is turned on and controlled by the small handheld Inspire remote.
* As with any surgically implanted device, there are risks associated with the Inspire system. See safety information at inspiresleep.com/safety.
1 Suurna MV, Steffen A, Boon M, et al. Impact of Body Mass Index and Discomfort on Upper Airway Stimulation: ADHERE Registry 2020 Update. Laryngoscope 2021; 131(11): 2616-2624
You may qualify for Inspire therapy if you meet the basic requirements:
Age 18 or older
Diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea
Unable to benefit from CPAP
To confirm if Inspire therapy will work for you, you will need to meet with an Inspire-trained provider for a consultation appointment. Find an Inspire-trained doctor near you.
Inspire therapy has been clinically tested for people with a body mass index (BMI) up to 40. The vast majority1 of U.S. adults are within this range. Insurance policies have a BMI policy in place for qualification. Check with your insurance policy to learn what the BMI requirement is for your plan.
1 “Overweight & Obesity Statistics - Niddk.” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Sept. 2021.
The vast majority of U.S. insurance providers – including Medicare, Veterans Affairs (VA) and major commercial carriers – cover Inspire therapy for those who are unable to benefit from CPAP.
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. is currently working with payers to navigate the transition to Inspire V™ within their policies.
If you have questions about coverage for your specific Inspire® implant version, please work with your Inspire-trained provider, contact your insurance company, or contact us at [email protected].
Learn more about Inspire insurance coverage here.
Preparing for my Inspire therapy consultation appointment
During your consultation meeting, your Inspire-trained provider will ask you questions about your experiences with obstructive sleep apnea and CPAP therapy.
Bring a copy of your most recent sleep study – ideally one that was completed within the past two years.
Be ready to discuss your:
Sleep quality and concerns
Experience using CPAP therapy
Use of prescription sleep medication(s)
Questions about Inspire therapy
Download the Inspire Therapy Doctor Discussion Guide to prepare for your appointment, here.
The Inspire therapy process
The airway exam is a simple exam to confirm the Inspire® implant will work for you. Your provider will use a tiny camera to look inside your airway. It usually takes about 20 minutes. The airway exam is a safe procedure with minimal discomfort1 and most patients are approved to get the Inspire implant.2-3 When you’re done, you’ll know if Inspire therapy is right for you.
1 De Vito A., Carrasco Llatas M., Ravesloot M.J., Kotecha B., De Vries N., Hamans E., Maurer J., Bosi M., Blumen M., Heiser C., et al. European position paper on drug-induced sleep endoscopy: 2017 Update. Clin. Otolaryngol. 2018;43:1541–1552. doi: 10.1111/coa.13213.
2 Van de Perck, Eli & Heiser, Clemens & Vanderveken, Olivier. (2021). Concentric versus anteroposterior-laterolateral collapse of the soft palate in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. 71. 10.1183/23120541.sleepandbreathing-2021.71.
3 Vanderveken OM, Maurer JT, Hohenhorst W, Hamans E, Lin HS, Vroegop AV, Anders C, de Vries N, Van de Heyning PH. Evaluation of drug-induced sleep endoscopy as a patient selection tool for implanted upper airway stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2013 May 15;9(5):433-8. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.2658. PMID: 23674933; PMCID: PMC3629316.
During a safe and short outpatient procedure,1* an Inspire-trained provider will make two small incisions. One incision is to insert the Inspire® implant under your skin near your collarbone. The other incision beneath your jawline connects the implant to the nerve in your neck that controls your tongue.
After the safe procedure, most people take over-the-counter pain medication and, within a few days, can resume non-strenuous activities.
* As with any surgically implanted device, there are risks associated with the Inspire system. See safety information at inspiresleep.com/safety.
1 Suurna MV, Steffen A, Boon M, et al. Impact of Body Mass Index and Discomfort on Upper Airway Stimulation: ADHERE Registry 2020 Update. Laryngoscope 2021; 131(11): 2616-2624
Life with Inspire therapy
Inspire therapy feels like gentle pulses that should not be painful or uncomfortable. The stimulation is very gentle and designed to move the tongue forward without disturbing your sleep.
Inspire therapy should not limit your regular daily activities once you are fully healed.
Talk to your Inspire-trained provider for more information.
The visibility of the scars from your Inspire implant procedure will depend on your skin tone and individual healing process. Each patient will have one incision under the chin and one below the collarbone.
Patient James' scar
Patient Karen's scar
Patient Lottie's Scar
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of medical imaging that uses magnetic fields to create an internal view of the body.
If you have an Inspire® implant Model 3028 or 3150, you are eligible for MRI scans provided specific conditions are followed.
If you have an Inspire® implant Model 3024, you are not eligible for MRI scans.
To find out what type of Inspire implant model you have, please contact your provider or look at your patient ID card. There is a yellow MR triangle on the back of the patient ID card if you have the Inspire implant Model 3028 or 3150. If so, you are eligible for MRI provided specific scan conditions are followed.
If the back of your patient ID card does not have a yellow MR triangle, you have the Inspire implant Model 3024 and are not eligible for MRI scans.
If you require frequent breast, cardiac or prostate MRI scans please consult with your Inspire-trained provider prior to receiving Inspire therapy, as specific imaging adjustments may be applicable.
For more information on MRI guidelines, please click here.
Please consult with your Inspire-trained provider for more information
Other FAQs
Yes, an Inspire-trained provider can print out your usage record to show you are using your prescribed obstructive sleep apnea treatment. With this proof of compliance, you should be able to renew your driver's license.
A significant decrease in snoring has been found as a secondary effect of Inspire therapy.
90% of bed partners report no or soft snoring.1
1 Woodson BT, Strohl KP, Soose RJ, et al. Upper Airway Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: 5-Year Outcomes. Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery 2018; 159(1):194-202
The Inspire implant battery is designed to last for approximately 10 years.
Once it is running low, it is replaced during a simple outpatient procedure.
Most patients meet with their Inspire-trained provider 1-2 times per year for a check up on their Inspire therapy to help ensure your sleep goals are continuing to be met.
Getting good quality sleep is important to your overall health and wellness. It also plays a big role in helping you be alert and feel good.
Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to serious health concerns like Type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart attack, depression and a shortened life span.1-2
1 Peppard, P.E., Young, T., Barnet, J.H., Palta, M., Hagen, E. W., Hla, K. M., (2013). Increased Prevalence of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Adults, American Journal of Epidemiology, 1014
2 Young T, Finn L, Peppard PE, Szklo-Coxe M, Austin D, Nieto FJ, Stubbs R, Hla KM. Sleep disordered breathing and mortality: eighteen-year follow-up of the Wisconsin sleep cohort. 31(8), 1071-1078.
Treatment options for sleep apnea include:
Lifestyle changes
Exercise
Not drinking alcohol before bedtime
Sleeping on your side
CPAP
Inspire therapy
Oral Appliance
Surgery to remove blockages
Questions? We’re here to help.
Our team of Inspire Advisors are ready to help you. They can answer your questions, help determine if you meet the basic qualifications and help you find an Inspire-trained doctor in your area when you’re ready to set up an initial consultation.
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