CANTON, Ohio (June 12, 2023) – Aultman is now offering Inspire therapy, a new obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment option for those who cannot use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. This new implanted device is available at Aultman Hospital, Aultman Alliance Community Hospital and Aultman Orrville Hospital.

Inspire is implanted inside the body and works with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. Mild nerve stimulation opens the airway during sleep, allowing oxygen to flow naturally. The patient uses a small handheld remote to turn Inspire on before bed and off when they wake up.

“Inspire can be very beneficial for the correct person,” says Dr. Clifford Johnson, medical director, Aultman Sleep Lab. “The correct person needs to have been diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea, has tried and found to be intolerant to CPAP, have a BMI less than 35 and be over 18 years old. The device can be expensive, but often much of the cost is covered by insurance.”

Inspire was evaluated for safety during its five-year clinical trials. During these trials, the device was shown to be safe for patients and significantly reduce sleep apnea events, helping to improve quality-of-life measures. Results in subsequent studies of the Inspire device are consistent with the initial five-year clinical trials.

Not everyone is eligible for Inspire, and a provider referral is necessary to begin the process of diagnosing OSA. Most insurances – including Medicare – will cover diagnosis of OSA as well as the device, surgical implantation and follow-up visits.

OSA affects 22 million Americans. When left untreated, OSA can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death. It occurs when the airway collapses during sleep and blocks the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to take a breath, then falls back asleep. This cycle repeats throughout the night and causes poor, disruptive sleep.

To learn more about Inspire, please visit aultman.org/sleep.

About Aultman Health Foundation
The Aultman Health Foundation is a nonprofit healthcare organization serving Stark and surrounding counties. The integrated healthcare system includes Aultman Hospital, Aultman Orrville Hospital, Aultman Alliance Community Hospital, the locally managed health insurance provider AultCare, The Aultman Foundation and Aultman College. With 1,032 beds, over 1,000 active providers and a team of more than 7,000 employees, Aultman is Stark County's largest provider of healthcare services. For more information, visit www.aultman.org.