Inspire Stimulation Therapy

[sonicboom]

Has anyone tried or had experience with or exposure to Inspire Airway Stimulation Therapy? It is supposedly for those who can't use or don't get relief from CPAP. A device is implanted between chest and neck and monitors your breathing. It then mildly stimulates key airway muscles to keep the airway open.

[justMongo]

I had not heard of it. Just did a little reading about it. I do not think you'll find anyone here who has tried it.
Seems like a last resort device; likely not covered by most insurance.... unless all else has failed.

[DariaVader]

looks to me like it doesnt decrease ahi anywhere near as well as cpap. I suppose if you cant use cpap its better than nothing, but 65% reduction in ahi is not good enough unless you were only ~ 10 AHI to begin with. It is also untested on anyone with a BMI > 32.

[sonicboom]

It definately has limitations from what I read but the concept seemed promising. In the end there is nothing more therapeutic than xPAP.

[DariaVader]

It definately has limitations from what I read but the concept seemed promising. In the end there is nothing more therapeutic than xPAP.

except for very possibly the Alaxostent - which is repugnant, but fascinating nevertheless (to me)

[DeepBreathing]

There have been a few different electrical stimulus solutions floated over the past few years. Most of them involve an invasive procedure and clinical results which do not match the better results achieved with xPAP. If you really can't adapt to xPAP, then maybe this type of procedure might do the trick.

As for the Alaxostent...

[49er]

There have been a few different electrical stimulus solutions floated over the past few years. Most of them involve an invasive procedure and clinical results which do not match the better results achieved with xPAP. If you really can't adapt to xPAP, then maybe this type of procedure might do the trick.

As for the Alaxostent...

Exactly DB. As someone who has not adapted to pap therapy in spite of trying for nearly 4 years, I will definitely be looking at this option depending on the results of my upcoming 8/31 sleep study.

The issue isn't is this a better choice than pap therapy when someone is diagnosed with sleep apnea. I think we all would agree it is isn't except in very unusual cases.

But I think many folks seem to forget that pap therapy doesn't work for a certain percentage of people no matter what they try. So it either comes down to a dental device or surgery since obviously, not having any treatment is usually not an option unless the apnea is very mild. Even then, that could be dicey.

[TyroneShoes]

...A device is implanted between chest and neck and monitors your breathing...

I highly doubt that it "monitors" breathing. The only way to "monitor" airflow in a breathing system is by measuring the back pressure (oh, wait a minute, that is how xPAP works).

So just exactly how would it be able to do that? Just implanting something near the airway regardless of how high-tech is is would have no capability of "monitoring" anything.

I'm sure if I were designing a kick-starter program I would try very hard in the hype, ...er, literature to imply or suggest the illusion of it being able to do that, but ... really? I smell a congressional investigation coming.

The electro-stimulation concept bears looking into, however.

[49er]

Posted on the other forum yesterday on a related note:

thnstudy.com

I hope this is ok and isn't seen as a commercial site. If it is, then google THN Sleep Study and it should be come up.

Signed up for a callback to see if it is worth pursuing. One good point Dr. Park made in his podcast about cpap alternatives is this procedure is good for people with tongue collapse but if there are other issues, it won't be as helpful.

49er

[Barbz]

This is something I am very interested in! Yes, I use CPAP, but have never really been successful. Because of severe sinus issues, I can only use the Oracle mask. I also have to have the head of my bed raised to 45 degrees in order to use that Oracle. Last night I tried lowering it to 25 degrees and ended up pushing my unit all out...ending up with an AHI of 17.

So tired today I have trouble with balance and dizziness. A PET scan cleared my brain from dementia and Alzheimer's. I honestly believe that issue is be caused of exhaustion!

I am a gadget person and love trying apps on my phone. Well, downloaded Motion24/7 to my old iPhone. It said that I slept deeply in the beginning of the night...HA...not...that was the period I have some of my highest concentration of apnea event. I had over 100 last night. Short duration, but still makes for a lousy night. Will take screen shots of that screen and my Sleepyhead to post. Working backwards today.