Image Credit: Apnex Medical
MedicalApnex Medical, Inc. is located in St. Paul, MN. It was founded in 2006 and has developed the Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation System (HGNS® System) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The HGNS System has been evaluated in feasibility studies and is now being assessed in an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) Study (Apnex®Clinical Study).
The Apnex HGNS System is an implantable therapy that is intended to work by activating the muscles in the upper airway to ensure that the airway remains open during sleep. During sleep, the system detects the patient’s breathing and delivers mild stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, the nerve that controls the muscles of the tongue, to keep the airway open. The stimulation is timed to a patient’s own breathing pattern. The HGNS System is programmed to work only when the patient is asleep, or it can be turned on and off as needed through a handheld controller. Continue reading