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Around eight million Britons are affected by sleep apnea and many more worldwide. The disease manifests itself by blockage of the airways during rest. If the phenomenon lasts several minutes, it sometimes proves fatal without treatment such as a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.
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Inspire prevents airway blockage
CPAP, however, is annoying because it is very bulky and requires a mask for continuous air pressure in the airways during the night. But there are now two alternatives: Genio Nyxoah and Inspire.
Genio Nyxoah requires a small operation on his chin to implant a chip. Patients then use a small device attached to the chin which is managed via a smartphone or remote control.
As for Inspire, approved by the US FDA unlike Genio Nyxoah, it requires a more invasive intervention with the implantation of devices in the thorax and chin. The airways and tongue are stimulated to avoid blockage.
The British National Health Service (NHS) carried out the first interventions in the country. But for now, the option is limited to patients who are unable to use a CPAP machine. Inspire, in its version “V”has been tested for almost a decade. But its recent adoption by hospitals marks a turning point in its large-scale deployment.
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