Targeted Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation

Reflecting the scientific advances of the past several decades, hypoglossal nerve stimulation has emerged as an important tool for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Starting from the preliminary animal studies of the late 1980s, the evolution of our understanding of hypoglossal nerve stimulation culminated in the development of the Inspire II (Inspire Medical Systems, Inc; Maple Grove, Minnesota), the first, and currently only, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved implantable hypoglossal nerve stimulation system to treat OSA. Through parallel development, targeted hypoglossal nerve stimulation (THN), which provides a different approach for activating the tongue muscles, has shown potential as an effective alternative implantable stimulation device for OSA through previous pilot and feasibility studies. In this issue of JAMA Otolaryngology –Head& Neck Surgery, Schwartz et al report on the safety and effectiveness of the aura6000 THN therapy system (ImThera Medical, San Diego, California) from the THN3 trial, a rigorous international multi-center, parallel-arm, randomized clinical trial. In this trial, Schwartz et al report significant improvements in physiologic measures of OSA and in important patient-reported outcome measures, including daytime sleepiness and quality of life, with THN. Combined with a favorable safety profile, these results may lead to FDA approval of the THN system, and thus a compelling potential new treatment option for patie...
Source: JAMA Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Source Type: research