Inspire therapy

Hollywood – October 29, 2026 -- Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital has implanted an Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulation device in a teenage patient with Down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea, its first such procedure. The hospital is now the only center in South Florida offering the therapy to these patients.

How the implant keeps airways open during sleep

Inspire is described as the first FDA-approved obstructive sleep apnea treatment that works inside the body to address the root cause of the condition. A small device is implanted in a minimally invasive procedure and uses gentle stimulation to keep the airway open during sleep. Patients or caregivers turn the therapy on before bedtime by clicking a button on the Inspire remote.