Saint Mary's Hospital is First in the Region to Offer Inspire V Therapy
August 25, 2025Categories: Organizational Updates
Saint Mary’s Hospital is first in greater Waterbury to offer Inspire V therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Inspire therapy launched at both Saint Mary’s and Saint Francis Hospital in 2024, and the next-generation of this breakthrough treatment is now available. Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) partners, Neil Schiff, MD, and Mahesh Bhaya, MD, recently completed several successful Inspire® V therapy procedures.
Left to right: Neil Schiff, MD, Lizette Ramos, OR Nurse, and Mahesh Bhaya, MD
“Using Inspire V at Saint Mary’s Hospital is more than just adopting new technology, it’s about empowering our patients. It’s meaningful to bring advanced, personalized care to our community and help people reclaim restful sleep,” said Dr. Bhaya.
Inspire® therapy offers a mask-free solution for people with OSA who have tried and struggled with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). With the Inspire® implant, remote, and app, patients can control their OSA treatment. “Inspire V represents a major step forward in sleep apnea care. Every patient deserves access to effective treatment. This technology allows us to reach more people who previously had limited options,” said Dr. Schiff.
Inspire therapy is also available for patients in Hartford at Saint Francis Hospital under the care of Asher Qureshi, MD, Director of the Sleep Center at Saint Francis; Antarpreet Kaur, MD, pulmonologist; and Ryan Drake, MD, otolaryngologist.
When we sleep, our airway muscles and tongue relax, but for those with OSA, the tongue relaxes into a position that blocks the airway. The Inspire® implant works to remedy this by delivering gentle pulses to the patients’ airway muscles, keeping it open, allowing for regular breathing, and ultimately better sleep.
A research study from ResMed estimates that by 2050, OSA will affect nearly 77 million American adults. If OSA is not addressed, it impacts more than sleep. Untreated OSA can lead to vehicle and workplace accidents, memory loss, stroke, heart attack, and even death. “Inspire therapy is about offering hope and real solutions to improve sleep and quality of life,” said Gregory Colodner, MD, Medical Director, Saint Mary’s Hospital Sleep Center.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently expanded eligibility for Inspire V therapy. Previously, patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 65 breathing interruptions per hour were approved for Inspire. Now, patients with up to 100 events per hour are eligible. Additionally, the body mass index (BMI) limit has increased from 32 to 40, allowing patients with higher body weight to qualify for the treatment.
“The FDA’s decision to expand Inspire V to more patients is a game-changer,” said Dr. Bhaya. ”We are proud to offer this cutting-edge solution at Saint Mary’s enabling those in our community with OSA to breathe and sleep better.”