Inspire Sleep Apnea Therapy in Greensburg & Scottdale, PA
A Mask-Free Alternative to CPAP for Sleep Apnea
If you’ve struggled to get used to a CPAP mask, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep choosing between treating your sleep apnea and getting a comfortable night’s rest. Inspire therapy is an FDA-approved, implantable device that treats obstructive sleep apnea from the inside, with no mask, hose, or noisy machine required.
At Westmoreland Sleep Medicine, Dr. Bharat Jain brings over 25 years of experience in sleep disorders medicine to patients throughout Greensburg and Scottdale, PA. As a board-certified sleep specialist and pulmonologist, Dr. Jain takes an individualized approach to every patient, helping you find the treatment, whether CPAP, an oral appliance, or Inspire, that truly fits your lifestyle and health needs.
If CPAP hasn’t worked, it may be time to find out if Inspire therapy is right for you. Request an appointment with Dr. Jain today to start your path toward better, mask-free sleep.
How Inspire Therapy Works
What Inspire Therapy Treats and How It Works
Inspire therapy is one of several sleep apnea treatment options Dr. Jain offers at Westmoreland Sleep Medicine, alongside CPAP, BiPAP, and oral appliance therapy. It’s designed specifically for adults with obstructive sleep apnea who have tried CPAP but couldn’t tolerate the mask, hose, or pressure. Below, learn more about how Inspire works, who it’s designed for, and what to expect.
What Is Inspire Therapy?
Inspire is a small, implantable device that treats obstructive sleep apnea by gently stimulating the nerve that controls your tongue and airway muscles, keeping your airway open throughout the night. Unlike CPAP, there’s no mask, hose, or machine noise, just a soft pulse of stimulation timed to your natural breathing. Inspire is FDA-approved and has helped more than 100,000 people find relief from sleep apnea without surgery on the airway itself or nightly mask use.
How the Inspire System Works
The Inspire system has three parts: a small implant placed during an outpatient procedure, a breathing sensor that monitors your natural breathing pattern, and a handheld remote you use to turn the therapy on before bed and off when you wake up. There’s nothing to wear on your face and nothing to clean or replace each night. Most patients return home the same day as their procedure and resume normal activities within about a week, with Inspire activated a few weeks later at a follow-up visit.
Am I a Candidate for Inspire Therapy?
Inspire is generally designed for adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who have tried CPAP but haven’t been able to use it consistently, whether due to discomfort, mask fit, or difficulty with the pressure. It isn’t right for everyone, so Dr. Jain will review your sleep study results, medical history, and airway anatomy during a consultation to determine whether Inspire, another therapy on our Treat Sleep Apnea page, or a combination approach is the best fit for you.
Benefits of Inspire Therapy
- No mask, hose, or machine to manage each night
- Discreet, on-demand control with a simple handheld remote
- Clinically shown to reduce sleep apnea events and improve sleep quality
- May reduce or eliminate snoring for you and your partner
- Covered by most commercial insurance plans, Medicare, and the VA
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Inspire different from a CPAP machine?
CPAP uses a mask and a steady flow of air to keep your airway open. Inspire does the same job from the inside. A small device placed under the skin senses your breathing and delivers a gentle pulse to move your tongue out of the way, so your airway stays open on its own. There's nothing to wear on your face and nothing to clean or store at your bedside.
Will I feel the device while I sleep?
Most patients describe the sensation as a mild, gentle pulse, not uncomfortable or disruptive. It typically takes a short adjustment period to get used to, and Dr. Jain and his team will fine-tune your settings so it feels right for you.
Is Inspire covered by insurance?
Inspire is covered by most major insurance providers, including Medicare, when it's medically necessary. Dr. Jain is in-network with Highmark BCBS, UPMC, Aetna, Tricare, and other major plans. Visit our Insurance page for the full list, or give our office a call and we'll help you check your coverage.
How do I find out if Inspire is right for me?
The best next step is a consultation with Dr. Jain. He'll review your sleep history and current treatment, and talk through whether Inspire, or another option, is the best path to better sleep. Request an Appointment at our Greensburg or Scottdale office to get started.