Skip to main content

The Inspire® therapy procedure

Over 99.5% of Inspire® implant procedures are successfully completed without any major complications.1

Treating the root cause of your OSA

Instead of using a machine outside of your body to force air into your airway through a mask and hose, the Inspire implant works comfortably2 inside your body to treat the root cause of your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The image is a 3D rendering of a human head in a sleeping position showing how the airway moves during sleep.

When we sleep, our airway muscles and tongue relax. For people with OSA, the tongue relaxes into a position that blocks the airway.

The image is a 3D rendering of a human head in a sleeping position showing how the airway moves during sleep.

When your airway is blocked you get less oxygen to your brain, triggering you to wake up to take a breath. This cycle happens repeatedly, preventing quality sleep.

The image is a 3D rendering of a human head in a sleeping position showing how the airway moves during sleep.

The Inspire implant delivers gentle pulses that move your tongue out of the way each time you take a breath, keeping your airway open while you sleep soundly. No mask or hose required.

Safe outpatient procedure

During an approximately 90-minute outpatient procedure, an Inspire-trained doctor will make two small incisions. One incision is to place the 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.

Healing and recovery

After the procedure, most people require nothing more than over-the-counter pain medication, and within a few days, can resume non-strenuous activities. Talk to your doctor about when you can resume light activity and return to work.

The image shows two individuals sitting closely together, looking out over a body of water.The image shows two individuals sitting closely together, looking out over a body of water.
The image shows two individuals sitting closely together, looking out over a body of water.The image shows two individuals sitting closely together, looking out over a body of water.
The image shows two individuals sitting closely together, looking out over a body of water.The image shows two individuals sitting closely together, looking out over a body of water.
The image shows two individuals sitting closely together, looking out over a body of water.The image shows two individuals sitting closely together, looking out over a body of water.

Sleep better3 with Inspire therapy

A follow-up appointment will be scheduled to turn on the Inspire implant and learn how to use the small handheld Inspire™ remote to control your therapy and adjust the settings. Your Inspire-trained doctor will work with you to guide you to the right therapy level for you.

Learn more about the process, and what to expect, below.

The process
1 Suurna et al, ADHERE Registry 2020 Update, Laryngoscope, 00:1=9, 2021
2 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
3 Woodson BT, Strohl KP, Soose RJ, et al. Upper Airway Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: 5-Year Outcomes. Otolaryngology Head Neck Surg 2018; 159(1):194-202