Source: Inspire Med Systems Update: Inspire's hypoglossal nerve stimulator was approved by the FDA in April 2014. Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Markedly Improves OSA An estimated 15% of men and 6% of women in the U.S. have clinically significant obstructive sleep apnea, meaning it worsens their daytime cognitive functioning, cardiovascular risk, or both. In obstructive sleep apnea, muscle tone in the soft tissues of the pharynx (throat) is insufficient to prevent them from intermittently collapsing during sleep, usually because of obesity. With each closure of the upper airway (failed breath, or apnea), hypoxemia and heart strain can occur, relieved when the sleeping brain arouses itself just enough to “buzz” the pharyngeal muscle tissues with enough nerve stimulation to restore muscle tone, airway patency and airflow. Because this almost all happens without frank awakenings, most people with obstructive sleep apnea are unaware of their nocturnal troubles or their severity. Continuous positive airway pressure delivered by mask to the nose or face can dramatically improve obstructive sleep apnea, and