Sleep apnea treatment developer Inspire Medical Systems has invested in two private companies with digital health tech that could better screen people for sleep problems.
Minneapolis-based Inspire Medical is the maker of a minimally-invasive, implantable device that uses neurostimulation to treat obstructive sleep apnea. It made a $10 million minority equity investment in Madison, Wisconsin–based EnsoData, creator of an FDA-approved sleep study analysis platform called EnsoSleep. The EnsoSleep platform integrates with a sleep labs’ existing software and diagnostic devices, using AI to automatically analyze and score sleep studies.
Inspire Medical also provided seed funding to Buffalo, New York–based Ognomy, creator of the Ognamy app that sleep physicians built to shift sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment from the clinic to people’s homes.
Tim Herbert, CEO of Inspire Medical Systems, said the tools created by EnsoData and Ognomy could help clinicians identify people with obstructive sleep apnea who need therapy adjustment or alternatives such as Inspire.
“These partnerships emphasize our focus on developing a digital platform to help patients navigate their journey to an effective solution for their OSA, such as Inspire therapy,” Herbert said in a news release posted yesterday. “As we expand our Advisor Care Program, we understand that long sleep study wait times are a challenge for many patients. We need innovative solutions to help patients quickly, conveniently, and accurately assess the severity of their OSA and subsequently connect appropriate patients with a qualified healthcare provider to consider treatment options, including Inspire therapy.”
Inspire Medical announced in February that it expects revenues to grow 36% to 40% this year, reaching $318 million to $326 million. The company is scheduled to report Q1 2022 results on May 3.
