New Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea ‘Inspires’ Better Sleep

Doylestown Health is proud to offer the Inspire Sleep Apnea System for those with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. The new treatment works inside your body and is an alternative to traditional methods that require masks while sleeping.

For millions of people, obstructive sleep apnea is more than a nuisance. The common condition is caused by relaxed throat muscles that allow the airway to collapse and block your breathing.

People with obstructive sleep apnea experience "apnea," which means they stop breathing for a short period of time, or "hypopnea," meaning they don't breathe enough to maintain oxygen levels in their blood. The condition can lead to extreme daytime sleepiness, difficulty focusing and even more severe health issues in some cases.

Traditional treatment for obstructive sleep apnea includes the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine during sleep. The machine requires people to wear a mask that delivers constant air pressure to regulate breathing. Until recently, people who could not tolerate CPAP had limited alternatives. However, Inspire therapy is offering new hope to people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who are unable to use a CPAP machine.

"Inspire can be a life-changing option for those who failed conservative treatment with CPAP," says Sonya Wexler, MD, otolaryngologist with Otolaryngology Plastic Surgery Associates.

How Inspire Sleep Therapy works

Inspire sleep therapy is the only treatment option approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to work inside your body. Sean Smullen, MD, otolaryngologist with Otolaryngology Plastic Surgery Associates, says Inspire therapy includes an implantable device made up of a small battery and two small wires. "The device is surgically-placed near your collarbone during a short outpatient procedure. In most cases, you can return to non-strenuous activities in a few days," he says.

Once the Inspire system is implanted, you can control it using a hand-held remote. Doylestown Health sleep specialists work with you so you know how to turn the system on before going to sleep and turn it off when you wake up. They also provide follow up care to make sure Inspire therapy is working well for you.

You can also track your sleep and share data with your physician using the Inspire app. "The app is a great way to measure how well Inspire therapy is working and the quality of your sleep," Dr. Wexler says.

Who is a Candidate for Inspire Sleep Therapy?

Inspire sleep therapy may not be for everyone. "Once you have been diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea, and have failed conservative treatment including CPAP, your doctor will screen you to see if Inspire sleep therapy would be a good option for you," says Dr. Wexler. "If Inspire is not the right fit, we will work with you to make sure you find a treatment that is best for your needs."

According to Dr. Wexler, the severity of obstructive sleep apnea is measured through the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI), which is the number of times you stop breathing during sleep.

• Mild sleep apnea: At this level people with sleep apnea may experience between 5 and 15 episodes of apnea or hypopnea per hour.
• Moderate sleep apnea: People with moderate sleep apnea generally experience 15-29 episodes of apnea/hypopnea per hour.
• Severe sleep apnea: Those who suffer from severe sleep apnea stop breathing or wake up more than 30 times per hour.

"People with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who elect not to be treated are at increased risk for developing multiple medical issues including hypertension, heart disease, stroke and even sudden death during sleep," says Doylestown Health Sleep Center Director Les Szekely, MD.

Find a Sleep Specialist

If you are looking for a sleep specialist, you can search for one who is right for you in our Find a Provider directory. To learn more about Doylestown Health's Sleep Center, visit Sleep Doctors & Sleep Disorder Specialists | Doylestown Health.

Meet the Providers

Les Szekely, MD, is a pulmonologist and critical care physician who is also a board certified sleep disorder specialist at Doylestown Health. Dr. Szekely serves as the Director of the Clark Center for Critical Care Medicine and the Sleep Center at Doylestown Health.

Sonya Wexler, MD, is an otolaryngologist at Otolaryngology Plastic Surgery Associates. In addition to performing the Inspire sleep therapy procedure, she has a special interest in conditions affecting the ear.

Sean Smullen, MD, is an otolaryngologist at Otolaryngology Plastic Surgery Associates. Dr. Smullen performs the Inspire therapy procedure and has a special interest in rhinoplasty, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, and sinus and allergic disorders.

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