Inspire Medical Systems raises $17 million to study sleep apnea treatment

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Inspire Medical Systems Inc. has raised $17 million in a second round of venture capital to pay for ongoing clinical trials of its device to treat one type of sleep apnea.

The Inspire system is an implantable device that delivers electrical stimulation to prevent the closure of the upper airway that can stop airflow for patients who have obstructive sleep apnea, the company said in a press release.

In these patients, the muscles that hold the airway open while they are awake relax when they sleep, allowing the airway to collapse. When the airway is partly closed, or the muscles relax too much, the patient is unable to breathe.

Obstructive sleep apnea can be a life-threatening condition, Inspire said. At best, it can disrupt sleep and lower oxygen in the blood. Studies have shown that patients who have obstructive sleep apnea are significantly more likely to have heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrest or harmful accidents during sleep.

The Inspire device can sense respiratory effort and delivery electrical stimulation to keep the airway open and breathing normal.

Synergy Life Science Partners led the recent venture round in Inspire Medical, the company said. Other investors in the round included existing investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, U.S. Venture Partners, Medtronic and Dr. Glen D. Nelson through GDN Holdings.

Inspire was formed in 2007 when its intellectual property was licensed and spun out of medical device giant Medtronic, according to Inspire’s Web site. At that time, Kleiner Perkins, U.S. Venture Partners, Dr. Nelson and Medtronic invested in the company to complete its spin-out.