Inspire Medical Systems Inc, the manufacturer of the first and currently only FDA-approved active implantable device for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is ranked No. 2 out of medical innovations that have “the power to transform healthcare in 2018” by a panel of physicians and researchers at the Cleveland Clinic.
“We have seen significant improvements in patient outcomes with Inspire therapy at the Cleveland Clinic since FDA approval in 2014,” says Alan H. Kominsky, MD, director of the Cleveland Clinic Otolaryngology Residency Program, in a release. “We look forward to continuing to deliver this transformative medical innovation to our patients at the Cleveland Clinic in 2018 and beyond.”
Inspire therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for moderate-to-severe sleep apnea patients who are unable to use CPAP and has been implanted in over 2,000 patients worldwide since 2014. This small device is implanted under the skin during an outpatient surgical procedure. Once implanted, the Inspire neurostimulator delivers mild stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, which controls the muscles and movements of the tongue, thereby stabilizing the upper airway and improving airflow during sleep. Patients use a sleep remote to turn the therapy on when they go to bed, and can adjust their own therapy, as necessary.
“Each year, the Cleveland Clinic names their top 10 medical innovations for the coming year, and we are thrilled to be No. 2 on this list for 2018,” said Tim Herbert, CEO of Inspire Medical Systems. “We are proud of the patient outcomes generated to date with our Inspire therapy. Our collaborative relationship with physicians and allied health professionals in the United States and Europe, including the Cleveland Clinic, is critical to bringing Inspire therapy to those obstructive sleep apnea patients who do not derive a benefit from CPAP.”
