If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea but cannot tolerate CPAP, or have tried it and given up, you are not out of options. Inspire therapy offers a proven, FDA-approved alternative that treats sleep apnea from the inside, without a mask, without a hose, and without the noise.
At Gwinnett Pulmonary & Sleep, Dr. Rajesh Jasani is one of the few sleep medicine physicians in the Gwinnett area who offer the Inspire program. Our team guides patients through every step, from candidacy evaluation to the implant procedure, activation, and long-term follow-up, so you have expert support at every stage of the process.
What Is Inspire Therapy?
Inspire is an FDA-approved implantable device that treats obstructive sleep apnea by stimulating the airway muscles during sleep, preventing the airway collapse that causes apnea events. It is the only sleep apnea treatment of its kind and represents a fundamentally different approach from CPAP, which manages airway obstruction externally using continuous pressurized air.
Unlike CPAP, which requires wearing a mask every night and relies on patient compliance for effectiveness, Inspire works internally. The device monitors your breathing patterns throughout the night and delivers gentle, targeted stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, the motor nerve that controls tongue movement. This stimulation moves the tongue slightly forward during inhalation, keeping the airway open and allowing normal, unobstructed breathing.
The device is controlled by a small handheld remote. Before sleep, you turn Inspire on with the remote. When you wake, you turn it off. During the night, the stimulation is gentle enough that it does not disrupt sleep and cannot be felt as discomfort. The implanted components are designed to be discreet, neither externally visible nor noticeable during daily activities.
How Does Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment Work?
The Inspire system consists of three implanted components working together:
A breathing sensor placed between the ribs monitors respiratory effort continuously throughout the night, detecting each inhalation cycle.
A stimulation lead connected to the hypoglossal nerve delivers a precisely timed mild electrical impulse during each inhalation, gently advancing the tongue and surrounding airway muscles to maintain an open airway.
A small implantable pulse generator placed under the skin below the collarbone coordinates the sensor and stimulation lead, processing breathing signals and timing stimulation accordingly.
The implant procedure is a same-day outpatient surgery lasting approximately two hours. Your surgeon makes two small incisions, one under the chin and one below the collarbone, to place the components. Most patients return home the same day and resume light daily activity within a few days, with a return to strenuous activity typically recommended after a few weeks.
The device is activated approximately one month after surgery, at which point your care team will work with you to calibrate the stimulation settings for optimal comfort and effectiveness.
Inspire Sleep Pros and Cons
Inspire therapy is highly effective for appropriate candidates — but like any treatment, it has both advantages and limitations worth understanding before deciding whether it is right for you.
Pros of Inspire Therapy
No mask, no hose, no noise. For patients whose primary barrier to sleep apnea treatment is CPAP intolerance, mask discomfort, air pressure, dry mouth, or claustrophobia, Inspire eliminates those barriers entirely.
Works while you sleep. Once activated, Inspire operates automatically based on your breathing patterns. There is no nightly equipment setup, no cleaning of masks and tubing, and no risk of the treatment failing because you removed the mask during the night.
Clinically proven results. The STAR trial, the pivotal clinical study for Inspire, demonstrated a 78% median reduction in sleep apnea events. 80% of bed partners reported no or soft snoring in their partner, and 93% of patients said they would recommend Inspire to others.
Long battery life. The Inspire device battery typically lasts approximately 11 years before requiring replacement, a straightforward outpatient procedure when needed.
MRI compatible. Inspire is MRI-compatible under specific conditions, allowing patients to undergo MRI when medically necessary.
Cons of Inspire Therapy
Requires surgery. Unlike CPAP, Inspire involves an outpatient implant procedure with associated surgical risks, recovery time, and anesthesia. While the procedure is minimally invasive and same-day, it is still a surgical intervention.
Not appropriate for all patients. Inspire has specific eligibility criteria. Patients with complete concentric collapse of the soft palate, identified during the DISE evaluation, are generally not candidates. BMI and AHI thresholds also apply.
Stimulation sensation during sleep adjustment. Some patients experience a mild sensation from the stimulation during the initial calibration period. This typically resolves as settings are adjusted to the individual patient’s comfort level.
Insurance and cost considerations. Inspire is covered by most major insurance plans and Medicare when eligibility criteria are met, but prior authorization is required and out-of-pocket costs vary. See the cost section below for details.
Who Qualifies for Inspire Therapy?
Inspire is not appropriate for every patient with sleep apnea; candidacy is determined through a structured evaluation process. General eligibility criteria include:
- A confirmed diagnosis of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, typically defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) between 15 and 65
- Prior trial of CPAP therapy that was unsuccessful, either ineffective or not tolerated
- BMI below the threshold established by the Inspire eligibility guidelines (your physician will advise based on current criteria)
- Absence of complete concentric collapse of the soft palate, confirmed through a DISE evaluation (see below)
- No anatomical or medical contraindications to the implant procedure
Patients who have never tried CPAP or who have not had a formal sleep study to establish their AHI will need to complete those steps before Inspire candidacy can be assessed.
The Candidacy Evaluation Process
Sleep Consultation with Dr. Jasani
Your evaluation begins with a sleep consultation to review your sleep apnea diagnosis, CPAP history, BMI, and overall health. A home sleep study or a review of prior sleep study results is included if no study has been completed within the past two years.
Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE)
Patients who meet initial criteria are referred to an ENT physician for a DISE examination, a brief procedure in which light sedation is used to simulate the muscle relaxation of sleep, and a small flexible camera is passed through the nose to observe how the airway opens and closes. This evaluation identifies whether complete concentric collapse of the soft palate is present, which would make Inspire less effective. The procedure takes approximately 20 minutes and confirms final candidacy.
Inspire Implant Procedure
Once candidacy is confirmed, the implant procedure is scheduled as a same-day outpatient surgery. The procedure takes approximately two hours. Most patients go home the same day and resume light activity within a few days.
Device Activation and Calibration
Approximately one month after surgery, the device is activated, and stimulation settings are calibrated during an in-office visit. Your care team will fine-tune the settings over the following weeks to optimize comfort and therapeutic effectiveness.
Ongoing Follow-Up
Regular follow-up appointments monitor your therapy response, adjust settings as needed, and ensure the device is functioning as intended. Inspire therapy requires ongoing clinical oversight, not just a one-time procedure.
Benefits of Inspire Therapy for Sleep Apnea
For patients who qualify, Inspire offers benefits that extend well beyond eliminating the mask:
Significant reduction in sleep apnea events. The 78% median reduction in AHI demonstrated in clinical trials translates directly to fewer nighttime breathing interruptions, more consistent deep sleep, and better overnight oxygen saturation.
Improved sleep quality for both patient and partner. 80% of bed partners in the STAR trial reported no or minimal snoring, a meaningful quality-of-life improvement for households where untreated sleep apnea has disrupted both partners’ sleep for years.
Reduced cardiovascular risk. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea is associated with significantly elevated risk of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and heart attack. Effective treatment, regardless of modality, reduces that risk. For patients who could not maintain CPAP compliance, Inspire provides effective nightly treatment where none existed before.
Improved daytime functioning. Patients who achieve consistent control of sleep apnea with Inspire typically report significant improvements in daytime energy, concentration, mood, and overall quality of life.
Freedom from nightly equipment management. No mask cleaning, no humidifier refilling, no travel with bulky equipment. The only nightly step is pressing a button on a small remote.
How Much Does Inspire Sleep Therapy Cost?
Inspire therapy is covered by Medicare and most major private insurance plans when the patient meets established medical necessity criteria, including a confirmed moderate-to-severe OSA diagnosis, documented CPAP intolerance, and BMI within the eligible range.
Prior authorization is required before the procedure can be scheduled, and coverage specifics, including deductibles, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums, vary by plan. For patients without insurance coverage or with high out-of-pocket costs, Inspire Medical Systems offers financing options.
Our team will verify your insurance benefits, manage the prior authorization process, and provide a clear estimate of your expected costs before any commitment is made. We do not proceed with the Inspire evaluation process without first confirming that coverage is in place or that the patient has made an informed decision about self-pay options.
Why Choose Gwinnett Pulmonary & Sleep for Inspire Therapy?
One of the Only Inspire Providers in Gwinnett County
Dr. Jasani is among a small number of sleep medicine physicians in the Gwinnett area offering the Inspire program. Not all sleep practices have the clinical infrastructure, specialist relationships, or surgical coordination capabilities required to support Inspire, from candidacy evaluation through DISE referral, implant coordination, and post-activation follow-up.
Expert Sleep Medicine Evaluation
Inspire is only as effective as the evaluation that precedes it. Our team does not fast-track patients to the procedure; we conduct a thorough clinical assessment to confirm that Inspire is the most appropriate treatment for your specific presentation, and that you meet all eligibility criteria before moving forward.
Coordinated Care From Evaluation Through Recovery
The Inspire process involves multiple clinical steps across different specialties, sleep medicine, ENT, and surgical care. Our team coordinates every step of that pathway, so you always know what comes next and who is responsible for each component of your care.
Four Decades of Sleep Medicine Experience
Gwinnett Pulmonary & Sleep has been managing sleep disorders in the Atlanta area since 1983. The experience behind the evaluation matters, particularly for a therapy like Inspire, where accurate candidacy assessment and precise post-implant calibration directly determine outcomes.
Find Out If Inspire Therapy Is Right for You
If you have obstructive sleep apnea and CPAP has not worked for you, Inspire therapy may be the solution you have been looking for. At Gwinnett Pulmonary & Sleep, Dr. Jasani will walk you through the full evaluation process and give you an honest assessment of whether you are a candidate, with no pressure and no shortcuts.
Call our office to schedule a consultation, or request an appointment online.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Inspire sleep apnea treatment work?
The device monitors your breathing throughout the night using a small sensor. With each inhalation, it delivers a gentle electrical impulse to the nerve that controls tongue movement, advancing the tongue slightly to maintain an open airway. You turn the device on before sleep and off when you wake using a small handheld remote.
Who is a candidate for Inspire therapy?
Candidates generally have a confirmed moderate-to-severe OSA diagnosis (AHI 15–65), have tried CPAP and not tolerated it, meet BMI eligibility criteria, and do not have complete concentric collapse of the soft palate, as confirmed by a DISE exam. A full candidacy evaluation with Dr. Jasani is required before eligibility can be confirmed.
What is the Inspire surgery for sleep apnea like?
The implant is placed during a same-day outpatient procedure lasting approximately two hours. Two small incisions are made, one under the chin and one below the collarbone. Most patients go home the same day and return to light activity within a few days. Strenuous activity is typically restricted for a few weeks post-procedure.
How long does the Inspire device last?
The Inspire device battery typically lasts approximately 11 years. When the battery reaches the end of its life, replacement is a straightforward outpatient procedure.
Is Inspire covered by insurance?
Yes, Inspire is covered by Medicare and most major private insurers when medical necessity criteria are met, including confirmed moderate-to-severe OSA, documented CPAP intolerance, and BMI within an eligible range. Our team handles the prior authorization process on your behalf.
What is a DISE exam and why is it required for Inspire?
DISE — drug-induced sleep endoscopy — is a brief procedure in which light sedation mimics the muscle relaxation of sleep, allowing an ENT physician to observe airway behavior using a small flexible camera. It confirms whether complete concentric collapse of the soft palate is present, which is a contraindication for Inspire. The exam takes approximately 20 minutes and is a required step in the candidacy evaluation process.