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In a groundbreaking development, patients in the UK have received an app-controlled implant that stimulates the tongue’s nerves to help alleviate symptoms of sleep apnoea. This innovative device, called Nyxoah’s Genio, offers a promising solution for those suffering from this common sleep disorder, providing hope for millions.
Sleep apnoea affects an estimated 8 million people in the UK, with the most common form being obstructive sleep apnoea. This condition occurs when the throat muscles relax and block the airway during sleep, causing repeated breathing stoppages. Symptoms include loud snoring, choking sounds, and frequent wakefulness, leading to chronic fatigue.
This new treatment involves a three-hour procedure to fit the Genio implant, recently performed by medical experts at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH). The device works by stimulating the hypoglossal nerve, which controls the muscles of the tongue, helping to keep the airway open during sleep.
One of the patients, 63-year-old Natalie Boller, was fitted with the device this month. She reported feeling better within days and is eagerly awaiting the activation of the device in the coming weeks. "I’m looking forward to being more active, something my tiredness has prevented," Boller shared with PA Media.
UCLH is now the first medical center in the UK to offer patients a choice of two nerve-stimulating implants for sleep apnoea treatment: the Genio device or the Inspire implant. Both devices work similarly by stimulating the hypoglossal nerve and serve as an alternative to the traditional continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines.
CPAP machines, which are typically the first-line treatment for sleep apnoea, require patients to wear a mask that blows pressurized air into the nose and throat. While effective, many patients find them uncomfortable and difficult to use long-term.
Consultant ENT and sleep surgeon Ryan Chin Taw Cheong, who performed the procedure on Boller, expressed optimism about the future of this technology. “I’m very optimistic about the way things are moving, and I’m hoping that we will be able to make this technology and make this implant more available for the right patients,” Cheong said.
The procedure involves making a small 6cm incision below the chin, where surgeons use a microscope to locate the nerves that control the tongue's movement. The stimulator is then implanted, with an external chip placed on the patient’s chin using an adhesive patch. This patch can be removed during the day to recharge the device, while patients can monitor and adjust the stimulation levels via a smartphone app before going to sleep.
"We’re hoping to be really driving this field forward to be able to offer these treatment options. So when a patient comes to our clinics, they are confident and they are assured that they will be able to access the best treatment for sleep apnoea on the planet," Cheong concluded.
