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ImThera Tongue Implant: Sleep Apnea Patients of the Future?
ImThera Medical is developing a sort of pacemaker for the tongue that is supposed to treat Sleep Apnea. Here's some information from the Company:
Video
Excerpt from ImThera's website:
It is understood that the problem with most OSA patients is that during sleep the tongue falls backwards into the throat and obstructs normal nighttime breathing.
THN Sleep Therapy stimulates the nerve that provides motor innervations to tongue muscles. During sleep most muscles relax. This is true of the tongue muscles as well. By providing gentle stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, normal daytime tongue muscle tone is restored to key muscles and the tongue does not fall into the throat, the airway is kept open and the patient can once again breathe normally during sleep.
The THN Sleep Therapy implant surgery is relatively simple. An incision is made in the upper neck. The hypoglossal nerve is readily identified medial to the digastric muscle and the electrode is placed around the nerve. The electrode is connected to a small pulse generator (IPG) implanted in the upper chest wall. Potential implantation complications are few, primarily infection, estimated to be 1%.
The system can be programmed a couple of weeks after implantation. It stimulates the hypoglossal nerve and returns daytime muscle tone to the sleeping tongue and prevents it from falling back in the throat and obstructing the upper airway. The implant is recharged through the skin once or twice a week. It is turned on by the patient with a handheld radio-frequency device prior to sleeping. It then runs continuously throughout sleep, and is turned off in the morning. Not requiring additional sensors or synchronization. The THN Sleep Therapy stimulator can be reprogrammed by the physician as often as required.
It designed to work for OSA caused by the tongue. It is the physicians responsibility to determine those patients whose obstruction is tongue based.
Views: 270
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Steven Y. Park, MD on
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I blogged about this a while back.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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Yes, Dr. Park's blog is whre I first came across this implant. I didn't go back and read the blog again, but sometimes having an implant like this means no more MRI's should you need one. It's knid of like a pacemaker (correct me if I'm off base anyone) in that you have to take similar precautions when wearing the implant.
Mary Z.
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Permalink Reply by Tim on
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I'll believe that it works when it has been out for at least five years and the vast majority of the users, especially the patients who have been on it the longest, have an AHI of less than three using only this device.
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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I share everyone's skepticism. I've gotten my hopes up high with a lot of new technologies that are supposed to replace CPAP but they all seem to fizzle out and go nowhere/ be less effective than CPAP.
Tim said:I'll believe that it works when it has been out for at least five years and the vast majority of the users, especially the patients who have been on it the longest, have an AHI of less than three using only this device.
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good article on the story behind ImThera and interview with ImThera's CEO: http://www.sandiego.com/business/imthera-medical-breathing-easier
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even though i've been burned before on hopes getting high about alternatives to CPAP, i am watching ImThera closely. these guys might be the real deal.
Mike said:good article on the story behind ImThera and interview with ImThera's CEO: http://www.sandiego.com/business/imthera-medical-breathing-easier
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It does look hopeful. Also, the workup to see if your OSA is tongue based might also factor in/out patients who may benefit from surgery on the tongue. I wonder how many of us have the particular type of OSA that this implant could help. Mike, how about you? Did you undergo a thorough screening like Dr. Parks suggests from an ENT to determine your naso/oropharnyx anatomy and probable cause of your OSA? It's kind of a mixed blessing that the research takes so long- at least it will be thorough. It would be interesting to know the percentage of patients that would qualify for the implant. One day it could be as common as the pacemaker.
I personally have not had an ENT exam, I just have the generic OSA diagnosis. The stories of the pain involved in some of the surgeries, and conflicting success rates (why the all important skilled ENT is necessary) have discouraged me from even investigating the cause of my apnea. I also have not yet really succeeded at CPAP with numbers still in the mild- moderate stage, and the setback caused by my nose breaking down. All this makes me wonder why more of us don't go for the cure- the trach. I for one have a swimming pool. LOL. If I wasn't crazy about water volleyball a trach would be a small price to pay for a cure.
Mary Z.
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No, truth be told, I haven't had the kind of exam that Dr. Park recommends. One thing you said concerned me a bit, Mary -- that you're not looking into the cause of your apnea because you're spooked about the surgical options. I am certainly no proponent of rushing into surgery, but some surgeries are appropriate and can bring great relief, as Dr. Park will tell you himself, particularly some of the nasal surgeries. I think the key is not to look at it as a substitute for CPAP... more of a way to make CPAP more effective (the nasal surgeries at least, if done by a highly qualified and experienced ENT).
Mary Z said:It does look hopeful. Also, the workup to see if your OSA is tongue based might also factor in/out patients who may benefit from surgery on the tongue. I wonder how many of us have the particular type of OSA that this implant could help. Mike, how about you? Did you undergo a thorough screening like Dr. Parks suggests from an ENT to determine your naso/oropharnyx anatomy and probable cause of your OSA? It's kind of a mixed blessing that the research takes so long- at least it will be thorough. It would be interesting to know the percentage of patients that would qualify for the implant. One day it could be as common as the pacemaker.
I personally have not had an ENT exam, I just have the generic OSA diagnosis. The stories of the pain involved in some of the surgeries, and conflicting success rates (why the all important skilled ENT is necessary) have discouraged me from even investigating the cause of my apnea. I also have not yet really succeeded at CPAP with numbers still in the mild- moderate stage, and the setback caused by my nose breaking down. All this makes me wonder why more of us don't go for the cure- the trach. I for one have a swimming pool. LOL. If I wasn't crazy about water volleyball a trach would be a small price to pay for a cure.
Mary Z.
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