Inspire Therapy Approved for Sleep Apnea Patients at Military and VA Hospitals

MINNEAPOLIS, April 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspire Medical Systems, Inc., announced today that Inspire® Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) therapy has been approved for inclusion in the Government Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS). The agreement enables access to Inspire therapy to patients cared for at Veteran Administration hospitals, military treatment facilities, and Indian Health Services hospitals. Inspire therapy is an FDA approved implantable device for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a common condition affecting 18 million Americans. 

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), one out of every five war veterans has been diagnosed with OSA—compared with only five out of 100 civilians in the general population. Between 2008 and 2010, the number of veterans who received medical benefits related to sleep apnea grew by 61 percent, from 39,145 cases in 2008 to 63,118 cases in 2010. Depending on the degree of severity, OSA can be a potentially life-threatening condition. Recent research shows that a person with poorly managed sleep apnea is at increased risk for heart attack, stroke, weight gain, high blood pressure and heart failure.

"With this approval, military personnel and veterans with sleep apnea who are unable to use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure will now have access to Inspire therapy and hopefully a better night's sleep," said Tim Herbert, CEO of Inspire Medical Systems. "We are very proud of this achievement and happy that many veterans and military personnel will be able to benefit from Inspire therapy."

While Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is often successful, studies show that roughly half of all patients that start CPAP eventually become non-compliant. In contrast to CPAP, Inspire therapy works inside the body and with a patient's natural breathing process. The implantable system includes a small generator, a sensing lead and a stimulation lead. Turned on by a handheld remote, it delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles, which keeps the airway open during sleep. Inspire therapy is approved to treat a subset of people with moderate to severe OSA who are unable to use CPAP therapy.

The Tampa VA is the first VA hospital to offer Inspire therapy. Several more VA and military hospitals are expected to complete training and offer Inspire therapy in the second half of 2015. Military veterans and personnel can learn more and view hospitals offering Inspire therapy by visiting www.inspiresleep.com. 

About Inspire therapy
Inspire® Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) is an FDA approved treatment for people with moderate to severe OSA who are unable to use CPAP. In contrast to CPAP, Inspire therapy works inside the body and with a patient's natural breathing process.  The system includes a small neurostimulator, a sensing lead and a stimulation lead. The single external component, a handheld Inspire sleep remote, is used to turn the therapy on before bed and off upon waking. When activated, Inspire therapy senses breathing patterns and delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles, which keeps the airway open during sleep. Patients implanted with Inspire therapy who participated in the STAR (Stimulation Therapy for Apnea Reduction) pivotal clinical trial experienced a 68 percent reduction in apnea events, a 70 percent reduction in oxygen desaturation events, and significant improvements in Quality of Life. These results were published in the January 9, 2014, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. For more information, visit: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7169651-fda-approves-inspire-upper-airway-stimulation-therapy-sleep-apnea

About Inspire Medical Systems
Inspire Medical Systems, based in Minneapolis, Minn., was formed in 2007 when the technology and a significant intellectual property portfolio was spun-out of Medtronic (NYSE: MDT). Inspire Medical Systems has developed the FDA approved Inspire system for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Privately held, investors include Aperture Venture Partners, GDN Holdings, Johnson & Johnson, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Medtronic, OrbiMed Advisors, Synergy Life Science Partners, TGap Ventures and US Venture Partners.

To learn more and to locate medical centers offering Inspire therapy, visit Inspire Medical Systems on the web at www.inspiresleep.com.

Media contacts:
Helen Shik or Rachel Gross
MSLGROUP Boston
781-684-0770
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SOURCE Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.

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http://www.inspiresleep.com