CPAP Not Working? You Have Options.
A physician-built resource to help you understand and compare FDA-approved hypoglossal nerve stimulators for obstructive sleep apnea
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a breathing disorder that occurs during sleep. The upper airway collapses—partially or completely—for repeated periods, causing breathing pauses that can happen a few times an hour or more than once a minute.
During these pauses, blood oxygen levels drop and the nervous system is activated, fragmenting your sleep. The result: even a full night in bed can leave you feeling exhausted.
Why Treatment Matters
Over time, the cycle of breathing pauses, low oxygen, and nervous system activation carries serious health consequences. The most significant include:
Sources: 1. Young et al., Sleep 2008 — Wisconsin Sleep Cohort, 18-year follow-up; adjusted HR 3.8 for all-cause mortality with untreated severe OSA (AHI ≥30); cardiovascular mortality HR 5.2. 2. Peppard et al., New England Journal of Medicine 2000 — adjusted OR 2.89 for developing hypertension (AHI ≥15); atrial fibrillation: Mehra et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006 — OR 4.02 (AHI ≥30). 3. Nagayoshi et al., Sleep Medicine 2016 — adjusted HR 1.71–2.75 for incident type 2 diabetes with severe OSA, 12.8-year follow-up. 4. Yaffe et al., JAMA 2011 — adjusted OR 1.85–2.36 for mild cognitive impairment or dementia (AHI ≥15).
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition—and treating it effectively can change your long-term health trajectory.
How This Site Helps You
Compare
See key differences between Inspire and Genio — what's implanted, nightly routine, MRI considerations, and more
Decide
Rate what matters most to you and get a personalized fit score for each device based on your priorities
Prepare
Download printable handouts and bring your results to your consultation with a sleep surgeon
Explore the Site
Everything you need to make an informed decision about hypoglossal nerve stimulation
The Inspire Implant
How the Inspire implant for sleep apnea works, who qualifies, and what to expect — a sleep surgeon’s plain-language guide.
Start hereDecision Tool
Answer questions about your priorities and get a personalized fit score for Inspire vs Genio
Start the ToolCompare Options
Side-by-side comparison of device features, eligibility criteria, and clinical outcomes
View ComparisonPatient Handouts
Downloadable guides including postoperative instructions and questions to ask your surgeon
Browse ResourcesAbout Dr. Nord
Learn about Dr. Ryan Nord's experience with 600+ Inspire implants and his role as a Genio clinical investigator
Meet Dr. NordWhat You'll Need
Having this information handy will help you get the most out of the decision tool
Sleep Study Results
Especially your AHI and whether events are obstructive vs central/mixed
CPAP Experience
Whether it works, you're intolerant, or you've failed treatment
Learn more about CPAP →BMI / Height & Weight
Your approximate body mass index or height and weight measurements
DISE Results
If you've had drug-induced sleep endoscopy, what it showed (if known)
Learn more about DISE →600+ Inspire Implants
Genio Clinical Investigator
VCU Health
FDA-Sourced Data
Evidence-Based
Ready to Find Your Best Fit?
The decision tool takes about 5 minutes. No login required. Completely anonymous.
This site provides education and decision support only. It does not provide medical advice and does not determine eligibility for any device. Always confirm candidacy and next steps with a qualified sleep clinician or sleep surgeon.