How does the treatment work?

Phase 1: Initial Evaluation

A specially trained physician consults with the patient during an initial consultation at one of the Inspire Treatment Centers. Using sleep medicine tests, the doctor then assesses the patient’s suitability for Inspire therapy, including an overnight sleep study in a sleep lab. If the tests are successful, the doctor and the patient schedule an appointment for the implantation of the tongue pacemaker.

Contact: Dr. Anja Giers, anja.giers@med.ovgu.de

Phase 2: Implantation

The tongue pacemaker is implanted during a short hospital stay of 3 to 5 days. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia using a minimally invasive technique—that is, not through a large incision, but via just two small incisions in the neck and chest. The patient can usually eat and speak normally on the day of implantation. The sutures are removed after about 10 days. The tongue pacemaker is fully healed after about two to four weeks. It must not be used before then.

Phase 3: Activation

Once the tongue pacemaker is fully healed, the therapy is customized for the individual. In this step, the treating physician activates the system with settings tailored to the patient and provides a comprehensive introduction to operating the Inspire therapy. Afterward, the patient can use a remote control to turn the tongue pacemaker on in the evening and off again in the morning, adjust the stimulation, and gradually get used to the new system. Most patients need a few nights to get used to the tongue pacemaker and then no longer notice the stimulation. After a 3-month adjustment period, the system is checked in the sleep lab and, if necessary, individually adjusted and fine-tuned to the patient’s needs during a single night of calibration.

Phase 4: Follow-up Care

Follow-up care takes place once a year with the treating sleep medicine specialist or ENT physician. During this comprehensive checkup, the battery status and system usage are reviewed, and the therapy is adjusted as needed.