UK surgeons implant first sleep apnea killer chips

Surgeons in the United Kingdom have implanted a chip in patients to allow them to get over their sleep apnea. The condition affects an estimated eight million people in the UK; this surgery is another step in combating it.

Sleep apneas cause sufferers to have their airways blocked while resting. This can go on for minutes at a time, and potentially result in death if not treated properly. One of the only treatments is to use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which can be bulky and require a mask. This pumps through your airways to keep you breathing at night.

There are currently two options for patients, Genio Nyxoah and Inspire. Genio hasn’t yet been approved by US authorities, but Inspire has received FDA approval.

Genio works by having a small surgery on your chin, where the chip is inserted. Rather than having an entire CPAP machine placed over your head at night, users strap a small device to the chin that talks to the chip. Using your smartphone or a remote, you can then activate it whenever you need assistance.

However, Inspire is a little more invasive than Genio. It implants a small device inside your chest and chin, which then work in conjunction with each other. Both devices stimulate the airways and tongue to move, leaving the patient without any blockages.

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has conducted the first surgeries in the country but is limiting it to those who can’t use a CPAP machine for now.

This type of surgery isn’t new, however. Inspire is currently on its “V” model, with tests using its technology dating back almost a decade. While it has been around quite some time, this is one of the first times it has been widely adopted by hospitals outside of testing.

Featured image: Rawpixel, Nyxoah

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