MINNETONKA, Minn. – December 10, 2020 – Respicardia, Inc. announced today that Monument Health in Rapid City, South Dakota is the first center in the Dakotas to treat patients with the remedē® System, an implantable device that uses phrenic nerve stimulation to treat central sleep apnea (CSA).  Ethan Levine, D.O., FHRS performed the implant.

“We are proud to offer this innovative therapy.  Central sleep apnea has historically been difficult to treat, and we are glad to now have a proven option for these patients” says Dr. Levine.  “We also appreciate the opportunity to partner with our colleagues from Sleep Medicine and Neurology to offer an advanced therapy and ongoing treatment of all sleep disorders.  Dr. Robert Finley and his sleep team have played a leading role in helping Monument Health to offer this therapy.”

The remedē System is an implantable device that activates automatically each night to stimulate a nerve in the chest (phrenic nerve) that sends signals to the breathing muscles (diaphragm) to control breathing.  It monitors respiratory signals and helps restore normal breathing patterns.1 The remedē System was approved for moderate to severe CSA in adult patients by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017.2

“We are fortunate to work with Dr. Levine, Dr. Finley, and the team at Monument Health to bring the remedē System to the Dakotas for the first time,” said Peter Sommerness, President and CEO of Respicardia.  “This is an important step in improving access for patients in the region.”

About Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) and the remedē® System

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is a serious breathing disorder that disrupts the normal breathing pattern during sleep and negatively affects sleep quality, quality of life, and is associated with poor outcomes. CSA results from the brain’s inability to send appropriate signals to the respiratory muscles to stimulate breathing.3,4

The remedē System, which received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in October 2017, is a breakthrough implantable system that treats the harmful effects of CSA by restoring a more normal breathing pattern during sleep. 36-month safety and efficacy data were published in Sleep in July 2019.5

About Respicardia

Respicardia is a leader in innovative technologies that address the unmet needs for respiratory and cardiovascular patients with safe and effective therapies. Founded in 2006 and headquartered near Minneapolis, Minn. Respicardia is dedicated to improving patient outcomes, quality of life and overall health via novel transvenous neurostimulation therapies. Learn more at www.respicardia.com.