ResScan question - worth it for me?

kayfouroh · Post by **kayfouroh** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:34 pm

I am in my second month of treatment and I was wondering if getting the ResScan software is a good idea. I know it is nice to have all of the data but right now I am just using the S8's screen for the leak data, AI, AHI, HI and average pressure. I am using Excel to make a chart for me.. would I benefit from the ResScan software? I am not planning to see my sleep doctor after one follow up visit unless there is a problem and I would like to know how the treatment is doing and get a handle on it myself, since I will be on it for the rest of my life. I am still renting my unit but I have no problem sleeping with it and am hoping to purchase it soon. I might request an upgrade to the S8 Vantage, but the ResScan software + the data card should work fine with that right?

So basically I'm asking yay or nay on ordering the software? cpap.com is currently out of stock, wondering if this is common? If it wasn't 200$ just for the software alone I wouldn't even question ordering it, but it's a lot of cash to throw down out of pocket if I shouldn't buy it.

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:10 pm

I have the software for my machines (ResScan for my S8 Elite backup machine, and EncorePro & EncoreViewer for my M Series Auto), and I think they are worth it. I guess, though, if you are willing to spend the time every day transferring the data from the screen to Excel, that would work just as well, except that you'll not have the easy access to trends and averages, though you certainly could do that math yourself. And yes, both of those ResMed machines use the same data card, card reader, and software.

kayfouroh · Post by **kayfouroh** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:19 pm

Rip: So by spending the 200$ I am not getting anything other than the pretty interface? I write down my numbers daily so I am already ahead on that.

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:30 pm

I think that is accurate, but let's hope one of our experts chime in here. I seem to recall that the readout provides all of the ResMed data that would be viewable with ResScan, but only on a daily basis, no trends or averages.

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:45 pm

kayfouroh wrote:Rip: So by spending the 200$ I am not getting anything other than the pretty interface?

You will see timed event data, which is something you can't get from the S8 display, which just shows aggregated summary data for the night.

ResScan will grahically display data against time, so you can see what time events occured and what time relationships exist between flow rate, leak rate, AI, HI during a night.

I find that useful. YMMV

Cheers,

Bill

Velbor · Post by **Velbor** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:45 pm

I have not used the ResScan software; I have used the older AutoScan, and my comments are based on that experience. I suspect that they will be applicable to the newer product.

The software provides three things, which you can't get from the screens:

(1) most importantly, graphical presentation of each night's pressure, leak and respiratory event data. Only with this input can you determine whether your respiratory events are clustered or spread through the night; whether your leaking is systematic or due to a few isolated leak incidents. I have posted on this topic before, and rather than repeat I would refer you to my comments at viewtopic.php?p=243079#243079

(2) the software will give you a few bits of statistics which the screens don't give you: median and maximum pressure and leak (in addition to the 95th percentile figures), and percent time in apnea. These statistics are available for each night, and for date ranges.

(3) and particularly since you mention Excel, the software will allow you to export the minute-by-minute pressure, leak and apnea data to Excel (actually to a comma-delimited .csv file, which can be opened by Excel). If you are handy with Excel, you can create your own custom graphs and do your own statistics as fancy as you please.

If you feel access to this information is of importance to you, I would recommend the software.

kennethryan · Post by **kennethryan** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:41 pm

Velbor wrote:(3) and particularly since you mention Excel, the software will allow you to export the minute-by-minute pressure, leak and apnea data to Excel (actually to a comma-delimited .csv file, which can be opened by Excel). If you are handy with Excel, you can create your own custom graphs and do your own statistics as fancy as you please.

ResScan 3.2 removed the Excel export feature (at least mine doesn't have it).

I don't know if v3.3 added it back.

ken

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:13 am

Velbor wrote:(3) and particularly since you mention Excel, the software will allow you to export the minute-by-minute pressure, leak and apnea data to Excel (actually to a comma-delimited .csv file, which can be opened by Excel). If you are handy with Excel, you can create your own custom graphs and do your own statistics as fancy as you please.

ResScan doesn't do this yet. Resmed indicated last year that there is a version coming that will have data export capability similar to Autoscan 5.7, but it hasn't arrived yet.

It was supposed to be in the version following the one we are all still waiting for that will be Vista compatible.... but that one is now running late. so data export could conceiveably arrive in the Vista compatible version.

Cheers,

Bill

ColinP · Post by **ColinP** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:53 am

According to this website, it does export:

http://www.cpapaustralia.com.au/shoppin ... tware.html

Export data from ResScan to a spreadsheet, such as Microsoft® Excel, so that data can be analyzed across multi-patient research studies.

Of course that wouldn't be the first time that software was advertised as doing something that it doesn't.

Colin

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:28 am

ColinP wrote:According to this website

The descriptions on that dealer site are not always accurate!

Cheers,

Bill

kayfouroh · Post by **kayfouroh** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:12 am

Thanks for all the tips! I just picked everything up used for 150$.

bigk · Post by **bigk** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:26 am

billbolton wrote:
ColinP wrote:According to this website
The descriptions on that dealer site are not always accurate!

Cheers,

Bill

It is nevertheless an excellent vendor.

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Airmini, Medistrom Pilot 24, CMS 60C Pulse Oximeter, ResScan 6

Mask	Humidifier

Additional Comments: S9 Autoset, H5i, Resmed Swift FX, Resscan 3.10