What This Number Really Means
Six hundred patients who struggled with CPAP sought a better solution and found it here.
Last week, I performed my 600th Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulator implant. Each procedure represents a person who deserves restful sleep and better health. Many patients traveled long distances after exhausting local options. I take that trust seriously in every case.
Reaching 600 is a professional milestone, but more importantly, it reinforces the significance of this work.
What Is Inspire Therapy?
For those unfamiliar with Inspire, it is a small device implanted under the skin during a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. It stimulates the hypoglossal nerve, which controls muscles that keep the airway open during sleep. Unlike CPAP, Inspire works with your natural breathing.
Before bed, you activate the device with a handheld remote. There is no mask, hose, or noise. In the morning, you just turn it off. That’s it.
Inspire is FDA-approved and has been used clinically for over a decade. Settings can be adjusted to optimize results. Outcomes are well documented in the medical literature: about 75–80% of patients experience significant improvement in sleep apnea symptoms, and over 90% report continued benefit five years after the procedure. Most patients resume normal activities within days.
Why Experience Matters
Inspire therapy involves more than placing a device. Careful patient selection is essential because not everyone with sleep apnea is a candidate. Accurate preoperative assessment, precise surgical positioning of the device, and long-term device management by an experienced team all influence long-term outcomes.
This experience is significant. Over the last decade, I have developed a patient selection and treatment approach that achieves outcomes well above the national average. 97% of my patients have sufficient reduction in their sleep apnea compared to the 75% national average. I attribute this success to the depth of experience I bring to each patient.
I’m proud to be among the highest-volume Inspire surgeons in the United States and one of the most experienced in the western U.S. Most importantly, these distinctions reflect the quality of care available to patients here.
Who Is Inspire Right For?
Inspire is approved for adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who have not tolerated or benefited consistently from CPAP. Candidates must also meet specific anatomical criteria, which I assess during consultation.
If you have been told Inspire is not an option or have not had a thorough discussion about your eligibility, consider seeking a second opinion. In my experience, some patients are ruled out too quickly or never given the opportunity to explore this treatment.
Reaching 600 procedures is a moment for reflection, not a finish line. Many people still live with untreated or undertreated sleep apnea and are unaware of effective alternatives. If you are among them, there may be options you have not yet explored.
I’m available to discuss whether Inspire or another treatment may be appropriate for you. In person and virtual consultations are available, and no referral is required.
This post is for educational purposes only. Every patient is unique. Please consult with Dr. Weiner or your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice tailored to your specific needs.