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 in English with a minor in advertising with the distinction of summa cum laude and served as editor-in-chief of the university’s biannual magazine, The Vindagua. After graduation, Rachel joined CMC Media & Marketing Group as an editor. Today, she serves as managing editor and is responsible for leading the editorial team in the development and completion of content for 17 publications involving health & wellness, business, sports, and lifestyle published in print and online for HealthScope® and CityScope® magazines as well as Choose Chattanooga® and Choose Huntsville™ – premier publications serving Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, and North Alabama. In addition to writing, editing, and coordinating copy, Rachel oversees networking and reputation management for the company’s publications. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, attending concerts, trying new restaurants, and traveling with her husband.
