Inspire® Sleep Therapy

Otolaryngology & Facial Plastic Surgery located in Baxter and The Village, St. Paul, MN

Couple sleeping with Inspire® device on the nightstand

Inspire® Sleep Therapy services offered in Baxter and Mendota Heights, MN

Inspire® provides a safe, effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a potentially severe sleep disorder that increases your risk of more serious health problems. At Advanced Specialty Associates in Mendota Heights and Baxter, Minnesota, the expert otolaryngologists use Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulation to provide lasting relief from OSA. Call the nearest Advanced Specialty Associates office today to schedule an Inspire consultation, or book your appointment online.

Inspire® Q&A

How is Inspire different from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy?

Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) and CPAP both treat OSA, but they do it in different ways.

CPAP therapy

CPAP therapy requires you to wear a mask during sleep. The mask connects to a hose and a small generator that blows pressurized air into your mouth, helping keep your airways open.

Inspire

Inspire is an FDA-approved implant that your Advanced Specialty Associates provider inserts beneath your skin along the right side of your neck and chest wall. After placement, you use a handheld remote to turn the device on and off.

You turn the Inspire implant on before going to bed. The implant monitors your breathing and delivers electrical pulses to your tongue that keep your airways open throughout the night.

What does Inspire electrical stimulation feel like?

Inspire electrical stimulation is safe and usually well-tolerated. Most people experience a mild tingling sensation in their tongue or a slight contraction of their tongue muscles. It shouldn’t be painful or uncomfortable. Let your provider know if it is. They can reprogram your device, ensuring comfort and efficacy.

Are you worried about the sensation keeping you up? Don’t be. The stimulation is delayed when you first turn the Inspire device on. But once you fall asleep, it resumes. This keeps your airways open so you can breathe clearly throughout the night.

How is the Inspire device implanted?

Your Advanced Specialty Associates provider implants your Inspire device during an outpatient surgery at a nearby hospital. Surgery takes two or three hours and occurs under general anesthesia. It takes several hours for the anesthesia to wear off, so a friend or family member needs to drive you home after the procedure.

How long does it take to recover after the Inspire surgery?

You need to get plenty of rest after Inspire surgery and take two or three days off work. It’s normal to experience pain and mild swelling at the incision sites during early recovery. Take your medications as prescribed, keep your wounds clean, and follow your doctor’s instructions.

Avoid strenuous activity for at least two weeks or as directed by your doctor. A week after the procedure, you return to Advanced Specialty Associates. Your provider assesses your surgical incisions and completes an exam to ensure you’re healing properly.

Call the nearest Advanced Specialty Associates office today to schedule an Inspire sleep apnea consultation, or book your appointment online.