Inspire Procedure | Sleep Apnea Treatment

Restful Sleep

with Inspire

Therapy

Dr. Bryan Richards, MD, offers an innovative sleep apnea treatment option – Inspire therapy. Inspire can offer relief for those who struggle with or can’t tolerate CPAP.

Targeted Conditions

Inspire therapy is designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults who:

Have moderate to severe OSA (Apnea Hypopnea Index 15-100).
Struggle with or cannot tolerate CPAP therapy.
Are not significantly overweight (BMI ≤ 32-40, depending on insurance).
Have airway anatomy suitable for the procedure, confirmed by a sleep endoscopy.

It does not treat central sleep apnea or other sleep-related breathing disorders.

How Does it Work?

Inspire therapy works with your natural breathing by delivering gentle stimulation to keep your airway open during sleep. A small device is implanted under the skin in a simple outpatient procedure, allowing most patients to return home the same day with minimal discomfort.

You control the therapy with a handheld remote, turning it on before bed and off when you wake up.

Who Qualifies?

Patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) between 15 and 100.
Not significantly obese (patients with a BMI below 40, Medicare patients must have a BMI of 34.9 or below)
Inspire isn’t for patients with a complete collapse of the soft palate or those with central and mixed apneas that make up more than 25% of their AHI.

Does it Really Work?

Yes! Inspire is a safe, FDA-approved therapy with over 10 years of proven success. Recent studies show:

90% of bed partners report little to no snoring.
91% of patients are satisfied with Inspire.
79% reduction in sleep apnea events.
94% say Inspire is better than CPAP and would recommend it.

THE INSPIRE DEVICE

The Inspire device is controlled using a dedicated remote or a smartphone app. The Inspire Sleep app allows users to turn the device on before sleep and off when waking up, adjusting settings as needed.

How the Inspire App Works:

Bluetooth Connectivity – The app connects wirelessly to the implanted device via Bluetooth.
Device Activation & Deactivation – Users can start and stop therapy with a simple tap on the app.
Therapy Adjustment – The app allows minor adjustments to therapy settings within doctor-approved limits for personalized comfort.
Tracking & Reports – It provides therapy usage insights and allows patients to share data with their doctor for optimized treatment.
Reminders & Support – The app includes reminders to activate therapy and access to Inspire support resources.

The Inspire app offers a convenient, user-friendly way to manage therapy without needing a separate remote.

Inspire therapy is the only FDA-approved treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that works from within your body. This small implant sends gentle pulses to your airway muscles, keeping your airway open so you can breathe naturally and sleep peacefully.

For people with OSA, the airway muscles and tongue relax too much during sleep, blocking airflow and reducing oxygen levels. This triggers frequent wake-ups, disrupting rest. Inspire gently moves the tongue out of the way with each breath, preventing airway blockage—no mask or hose needed.

What is Inspire therapy?

Inspire therapy works with your natural breathing to keep your airway open during sleep. A small device is placed under the skin in a quick outpatient procedure, allowing most patients to go home the same day with minimal discomfort. This device provides gentle stimulation to ensure steady oxygen flow. You control it with a simple handheld remote, turning it on before bed and off when you wake up.

Meet Our Specialist

Dr. Bryan Richards, ENT, specializes in the implantation of the Inspire therapy device for those who can not tolerate CPAP. Patients must make an appointment first with our Sleep Medicine Department at 801.773.4840

Testimonial

Watch this video from an actual patient about their Inspire therapy.