Inspire and Genio therapies are innovative, implantable sleep apnea solutions.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes your breathing to repeatedly stop and restart while you sleep. One of the most common forms is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when the muscles in the throat relax and block the airway. This causes a lack of oxygen that triggers the brain to wake you up just enough to resume breathing, a pattern that repeats itself continually throughout the night, interrupting the sleep cycle and preventing quality rest.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 50 million Americans are estimated to have OSA. Symptoms can include loud snoring, pauses in breathing, gasping for air during sleep, and feeling excessively tired during the day.
New Solutions
Inspire Therapy is one of the latest innovations in treating sleep apnea. This implantable, FDA-approved device is comprised of a small impulse generator, breathing-sensing lead, and a stimulation lead attached to the hypoglossal nerve beneath the tongue. It works by delivering gentle pulses that move the tongue and keep the airway open while you sleep.
Genio is another FDA-approved therapy for OSA that also works by stimulating the hypoglossal nerve. Its system is implanted in the neck and is powered externally through a small patch worn on the skin during sleep.
Benefits to Patients
By preventing sleep apnea from occurring, therapies like Inspire and Genio can treat symptoms such as snoring and allow patients to breathe regularly and enjoy sound sleep. They also offer an alternative to a CPAP machine – an external therapy that delivers air through a mask and hose. Instead, these implants conveniently work from inside the body. Plus, connected apps can track sleep goals and share data directly with your healthcare provider for the best results.
Genio is another FDA-approved therapy for OSA that also works by stimulating the hypoglossal nerve. Its system is implanted in the neck and is powered externally through a small patch worn on the skin during sleep.
Meet the Author
Rachel Studebaker, BA, English, Summa Cum Laude
Rachel Studebaker is a graduate of Lee University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in advertising. While attending Lee, Rachel served as editor-in-chief and creative director for the school’s biannual publication Vindagua and was a member of Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society. As managing editor for CMC Media & Marketing Group, she is responsible for the development and completion of 16 publications involving health, wellness, business, sports, and lifestyle articles published in print and online for HealthScope®, CityScope®, and Choose Chattanooga® magazines – premier publications serving S.E. Tennessee and North Georgia. Additionally, Rachel has led digital marketing initiatives for CMC Media & Marketing Group as well as the development of content for the introduction of Choose Huntsville™, Huntsville Resource & Relocation Guide™ for Huntsville, Alabama.
