Inspire® therapy is an innovative treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) designed for adults who cannot tolerate or find relief from CPAP therapy. The small device is implanted under the skin in the chest and neck area, where it gently stimulates the nerve that controls the tongue and airway muscles to keep the airway open during sleep. .
Activated each night with a handheld remote, Inspire works in sync with your natural breathing — without the need for a mask or hose. Dr. Sarah Powell performs Inspire® implantation procedures through the Sioux Center Health Specialty Clinic right here in Northwest Iowa. Call to schedule your Inspire® consultation.
Inspire® therapy is a mask-free solution for people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who have tried and struggled with CPAP. Through a simple-to-use system including the Inspire® implant, Inspire™ remote and Inspire® app, Inspire therapy enables you to control your OSA treatment from the palm of your hand.
How does Inspire® Therapy work?
During sleep, your tongue relaxes. For people with OSA, their tongue relaxes into a position that blocks their airway. While other OSA therapies use a hose and mask to force air through your airway, the Inspire implant works comfortably inside your body to sense when you take a breath. Then, it delivers gentle pulses that move your tongue forward to keep your airway open, helping you breathe regularly and sleep soundly. Simply use the small handheld Inspire® remote to turn your therapy on when you’re ready to sleep.
The procedure is FDA-approved, safe, and effective.
The Inspire device is implanted during an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. It is placed through three small incisions — typically in the neck and chest area.
Most patients recover within a few weeks and can begin using the system shortly after surgery. Follow-up appointments are scheduled to fine-tune the stimulation settings, ensuring the therapy is both comfortable and effective.
Proven Success with the Inspire® Implant
Data provided by Inspire® Sleep Innovation
90%
of bed partners reported no snoring or soft snoring
91%
of people are satisfied with Inspire® therapy
94%
of patients say Inspire® therapy is better than a CPAP and would recommend it to others
Covered by most insurance plans
The vast majority of U.S. insurance providers—including Medicare, Veterans Affairs (VA) and major commercial carriers—cover Inspire therapy for those who have tried and struggled with CPAP.
To be a candidate for Inspire® therapy, you must meet the following FDA indications:
Age 18 or older
Diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea
Have tried and struggled with CPAP
Inspire® therapy has been clinically tested for people with a body mass index (BMI) up to 40. Over 90% of U.S. adults are within this range. Most insurance policies have a BMI policy in place for Inspire therapy coverage.
Patients should check with your insurance provider to confirm coverage.
