A pioneering implantable technology - often described as a ‘sleep apnoea pacemaker’ – has been introduced to the UK, offering an alternative treatment option for people living with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) who are unable to tolerate conventional therapies such as CPAP.
Designed to prevent airway collapse during sleep, the technology works by gently stimulating the hypoglossal nerve, helping to keep the upper airway open – reducing apnoeic events and enabling restorative sleep whilst improving sleep-related quality of life.1-5 To coincide with World Sleep Day (Friday 13th March), Inspire Medical Systems is raising awareness of the clinical and societal burden of untreated sleep disorders, as well as the limitations of existing treatment pathways.
OSA is a common and serious condition caused by repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep, leading to oxygen desaturation, fragmented sleep and increased long-term health risks.
Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy has been the gold standard since the 1980s, adherence remains a major challenge. A recent study indicated that 47.7% of patients discontinued CPAP within three years, leaving many individuals inadequately treated6.
Now introduced to the UK, the technology is intended for people with moderate to severe OSA who are unable to tolerate CPAP therapy or for whom it has not been effective. Patients may be eligible for referral if they have an Apnoea–Hypopnoea Index (AHI) of 15–65, less than 25% central or mixed apnoea, are unable to tolerate CPAP, and have a BMI of 35 kg/m² or under.
For eligible patients, treatment is reimbursed by the NHS in several hospitals as access to the therapy continues to expand across England. The system works by using an implantable device that delivers breath-synchronised stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, which controls tongue movement. By stimulating the nerve in line with natural breathing patterns, the technology helps keep the airway open during sleep - without the need for external masks, consumables and nightly routine. Patients activate the therapy before sleep using a handheld remote control.
OSA affects almost 25% of the UK population7 and, if left untreated, is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, as well as excessive daytime sleepiness - a recognised contributor to road traffic accidents.8
Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO from The Sleep Charity said: “World Sleep Day is a vital opportunity to highlight how significantly sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea can affect physical health, mental wellbeing and daily functioning. Many people remain undiagnosed or struggle with existing treatments, so awareness of alternative, clinically proven options is essential to help individuals access appropriate care.”
The technology has been evaluated in multiple scientific studies, demonstrating strong efficacy and safety in reducing sleep apnoea events,1,9 improving sleep-related quality of life1 and supporting strong adherence.10
Ed Holyoak from Inspire Medical Systems added: “For patients who are unable to tolerate CPAP, this technology offers a fundamentally different approach by targeting the physiological cause of airway collapse. With more than 125,000 patients treated worldwide and UK access continuing to expand, innovation is playing an increasingly important role in improving long-term outcomes for people living with obstructive sleep apnoea.”
References
1. Woodson BT et al. (2018) Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery. 159.1:194-202
2. Strollo PJ Jr, et al (2014) N Engl J Med. 370:139–149. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1308659
3. Hofauer B et al (2017) Sleep and Breathing. 21:901–908 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11325-017-1519-0
4. Toshpulatov I et al (2025) Latin American Journal of Education. 5(7). https://lajoe.org/index.php/LAJoE/article/view/449
5. Dijk DJ. (2009) Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 5(2 Suppl):S6–S15. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2824213/
6. Pépin J-L et al. (2022) French Nationwide Database Analysis. Chest 161:1657–65
7. Benjafield AV et al. (2019) Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 7 (8): 687-698
8. Patil SP et al. (2024) J Clin Sleep Med. 2024
9Moroco AE et al. (2024) Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 20,9
10. Suurna, V. Maria et al. (2021) The Laryngoscope. 131.11:2616-2624
