First Neurostimulator Implant for Sleep Apnea
Maria Dalamagka The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first fully implantable neurostimulator to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but only as a second-line therapy. The device, called Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation therapy, is manufactured by Inspire Medical Systems, which announced the FDA's decision today. The implant helps keep a patient's airway open by stimulating the hypoglossal nerve during sleep in tandem with a patient's inspiration. The stimulation contracts upper airway muscles to pull the base of the tongue forward. The FDA has approved Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation therapy specifically for patients with moderate to severe OSA who cannot use continuous positive airway pressure. Adverse events reported in a clinical trial of the device included tongue weakness, dry mouth, pain, and numbness. The device is incompatible with having a magnetic resonance imaging scan. Stimulating the hypoglossal nerve reduces the severity of ...