Photo: Dr. Traub is on the left. Dr. Cohen is on the right, holding the remedē® System device. 

St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) has expanded its comprehensive sleep medicine program with the addition of the remedē® System, an innovative implantable therapy for adults living with central sleep apnea (CSA). The therapy further strengthens St. Luke’s position as a regional leader in providing advanced, personalized treatment options for patients suffering from sleep-disordered breathing.

St. Luke’s Sleep Medicine, which is part of St. Luke’s Neurosciences, recently became the first program in the region to offer the remedē System. The first two procedures at St. Luke’s were successfully performed by electrophysiologist Darren Traub, MD, SLUHN Section Chief of Electrophysiology, underscoring the Network’s collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to treating complex sleep disorders.

Sleep apnea affects millions of Americans and can significantly impact quality of life, contributing to excessive daytime fatigue, cardiovascular complications and other serious health concerns. Central sleep apnea can often be seen in association with congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, neurological disease and other underlying medical conditions. Because no single therapy works for every patient, SLUHN offers a full spectrum of advanced treatment options tailored to each individual’s diagnosis and needs.

The addition of the remedē System complements SLUHN’s existing suite of implantable sleep apnea therapies, which includes:

• Inspire® Upper Airway Stimulation for eligible patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
• Genio® Bilateral Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation, an innovative, battery-free therapy that stimulates the hypoglossal nerve to help maintain an open airway during sleep.

Unlike therapies designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea, the remedē System is specifically indicated for adults with moderate to severe central sleep apnea, a condition in which the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing during sleep. The device monitors breathing patterns and delivers gentle stimulation to the phrenic nerve, helping restore a more natural breathing rhythm throughout the night.

“Sleep apnea is not a one-size-fits-all condition,” said Dr. David Cohen, SLUHN Section Chief of Sleep Medicine. “By offering the remedē System alongside Inspire and Genio, St. Luke’s can provide a broader range of evidence-based therapies and help more patients find a treatment option that improves both their sleep and overall health.”

Patients with untreated sleep apnea often experience poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and reduced concentration. Sleep apnea may also be associated with a range of underlying cardiovascular and neurological conditions, depending on the type of sleep apnea and the individual patient. St. Luke’s Sleep Medicine evaluates patients to determine the most appropriate therapy based on the type and severity of sleep apnea, anatomy, medical history and treatment goals.

“With the addition of the remedē System, St. Luke’s is further enhancing our ability to deliver personalized care for patients who may not have found success with traditional therapies,” adds Dr. Cohen. “Our goal is to ensure that every patient has access to the most advanced treatments available.”

Patients interested in learning can visit sluhn.org or speak with their physician about a referral for evaluation.

 

About St. Luke’s

Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network with annual net revenue of more than $4.5 billion. With 23,000+ employees at 16 hospital campuses and 350+ outpatient sites, it is the Lehigh Valley’s biggest employer.

The Network’s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital is based at the Bethlehem Campus.

Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke’s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania. In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley’s first and only four-year medical school. It also operates the nation’s oldest continuously operated School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 60+ fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with 550+ residents and fellows. Additionally, the St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences opened in 2026.

In a 2025 study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, St. Luke’s achieved the highest quality score of the nation’s recognized top three high performing health systems. This objective recognition, based on public data reported to the government, reaffirms St. Luke’s preeminent position as THE BEST OF THE BEST among the most respected health care systems in the United States.

St. Luke’s has been named a Leapfrog Group Top Hospital and a Newsweek World’s Best Hospital. In 2026, all of the Network’s eligible hospital campuses were awarded Medicare’s highest ratings for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction. The Network also earned straight A’s for safety from Leapfrog across all of its acute care hospitals. It has earned 100 Top Hospital designations from Premier 12 years in a row, including in 2026 when the Network was identified as THE #1 MEDIUM-SIZE HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing the breadth of SLUHN’s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information.

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Sam Kennedy