Inspire Medical Systems' Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) Therapy is a Featured Sleep Apnea Treatment at Two Conferences

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspire Medical Systems, Inc., announced today that leading sleep medicine experts will discuss the company's Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) therapy at two conferences in February. An overview of Inspire therapy will be presented at the 21^st Annual Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Apnea and Snoring, taking place February 13-15 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine's Sleep Medicine Trends 2015, taking place in Scottsdale, Arizona, February 20-22.   

First line therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). While CPAP is often successful, studies show that roughly half of all patients that start CPAP eventually become non-compliant.  Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2014, Inspire therapy is the first implantable device for treating OSA.  In contrast to CPAP, Inspire therapy works from inside the body and with a patient's natural breathing process.

"Treating OSA patients that cannot tolerate CPAP is a challenge for both the patient and the doctor," said Dr. Kingman Strohl, Professor of Medicine at University Hospitals and Case Medical Center. "Inspire therapy represents a new approach that is backed by strong clinical evidence and that has a high level of patient satisfaction and therapy adherence, especially as these patients were previously left untreated."

Inspire's 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.

"Inspire therapy offers a clinically proven treatment option for OSA patients who have not found relief from CPAP. Inspire therapy is now available at many leading sleep medicine programs across the U.S.," said Tim Herbert, CEO of Inspire Medical Systems. "We look forward to sharing our clinical data and early commercial experience with some of the most respected thought leaders and researchers in sleep medicine during these meetings."

More than 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. 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.

Presentation Schedule:

• "A New Treatment for Sleep Apnea: Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation" will be presented by Ryan Soose, MD at the 21^st Annual Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Apnea and Snoring on Saturday February 14 from 12:00 p.m.—12:30 p.m. ET.
• "Upper airway stimulation for OSA: Where does it fit in?" will be presented by Patrick Strollo, Jr, MD, Kingman Strohl, MD and Ryan Soose, MD at Sleep Medicine Trends 2015 on Saturday, February 21 from 8:00 a.m.—9:00 a.m. PT.

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. Inspire therapy is a fully implanted system consisting of three components: a small generator, a sensing lead and a stimulation lead. The single external component, a small 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, Inc.
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc., 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 first FDA approved, implantable neurostimulation system for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Privately held, investors include Aperture Venture Partners, GDN Holdings, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Medtronic, OrbiMed Advisors, Synergy Life Science Partners, TGap Ventures and US Venture Partners.

Visit Inspire Medical Systems on the web at www.inspiresleep.com.

Media contacts:
Helen Shik or Rachel Gross
MSLGROUP Boston
781-684-0770
[email protected]

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SOURCE Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.

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http://www.inspiresleep.com