ResMed ResScan software -- issues with event graph

[DragonFire]

Hi all,

just getting used to be on CPAP (actually now on Auto) and tired of waking up at 5 and have to copy my data I have got the subject software.

I have a question for more experienced users of it.
If I download the data and look ad detailed graph for same day, I get Apnea events which look like a red lollipop with a number next to it (for ex. 12.0). If I download the data teh next day and look at the previous day data those events do not show up any more.

Crosschecking the AI both in the graph and in the machine display it is very often 0.0.

Bug? Known issue or am I missing something?
What is the number next to the lollipop (apnea duration in secs?)

Apreciate any indications.

[billbolton]

What is the number next to the lollipop (apnea duration in secs?)

Correct!

You need to make sure that you are NOT overwriting existing data when you do a download. This is an optional setting, so check it on the options menu item.

Cheers,

Bill

[DragonFire]

This is an optional setting, so check it on the options menu item.

Thanks Bill,
but if I do that I miss some data. I will explain what I mean. Lets' say I download on the 14 of november 18:00. The software will download all the data including detailed data for Day 14 between 12:00 (the time ResMed established a session starts) up to the card insertion time (18:00) therefore missing the night of the 14.

Next time I do a download the software will find detailed data for day 14 (between 12:00 and 18:00) and if I do not overwrite the night of the 14 is amiss because data for the 14 will not be loaded from 18:00 to 12:00 of the 15:00.

If I download the data teh next day and look at the previous day data those events do not show up any more.

My bad here . I still have to get familiar to choose day 13 and see Date 14 displayed below the grafics .... Just missread the charts.

Nvertheless I am a bit disappointed by how the software has been written (lack of exporting, heavy on Hw requirements, y axis scale does not adapt to the range of data displayed, does not work on Vista, lack of support on the website and these are just a few fast and furious impression after 3 days of usage) maybe users should start provide ResMed some feedback on it, should they care. They don not even ask for software registration. They give the impression software is a very secondary byproduct in their line of business.

Fabio

[Slinky]

The Respironics software had a problem w/Vista as well. Its Vista not the CPAP companies' problem.

The software is not intended for patients, therefore they offer you no support for it.

From what I was told by a tech at a local sleep lab (not my sleep lab) the Resmed Reps just copy the software for the sleep lab from a disk they carry w/them and thus the reason for no registration.

My laptop is loaned out right now to a friend in the hospital. My ResScan is loaded on it.

HOWEVER, w/my AutoScan 5.7 which I use most often and have installed on my desktop there IS the option for exporting the data.

To access the Export option just click on File in the top left tool bar.

Export: Exports the raw Summary data to a comma delimited (each entry separated by commas) file which you can open in another program (eg, Microsoft Excel) to form a table or database. The types of data exported can be selected in the Export dialog.

I've never bothered to export any data from either software.

[DragonFire]

The Respironics software had a problem w/Vista as well. Its Vista not the CPAP companies' problem.

Agreed that vista is a problem, but the rest is on them. I also understand is not intended for patients, but they might want to take note of the fact patients are using it.

(lack of exporting, heavy on Hw requirements, y axis scale does not adapt to the range of data displayed, does not work on Vista, lack of support on the website and these are just a few fast and furious impression after 3 days of usage)

With the exception of the vista issue, the remainder would also benefit the DME/Clinics. A scaled down package supporting 5 patients max could be released for patients use ....

Just my 2 Cents here ....

[Slinky]

Oh, Resmed is aware that patients are using their software. They haven't responded yet, as Respironics has, w/a patient version of their EncorePro w/o the ability to change pressure. It wouldn't surprise me if Resmed does come out w/a patient version of ResScan w/o the ability to change pressure in due time.

My experience w/Resmed has been when approached diplomatically, even w/criticisms, they've been receptive. Whether they actually follow thru .... ??

Keep in mind that Respironics has the advantage of an excellent relationship w/a LARGE online DME supplier, cpap.com, with this forum full of knowledgeable, experienced xPAP patients constantly giving input that cpap.com can then pass on to the Respironics Reps.

There are no where near as many Resmed users supplying input here as there are Respironics users so this should NOT be taken as a criticism of cpap.com not passing on forum input on the Resmeds. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

[billbolton]

if I do that I miss some data. I will explain what I mean. Lets' say I download on the 14 of november 18:00. The software will download all the data including detailed data for Day 14 between 12:00 (the time ResMed established a session starts) up to the card insertion time (18:00) therefore missing the night of the 14.

You need to read the data for the "night" after arising and before 1200 hours. If you miss that deadline on any day, just leave it until the next morning (prior to 1200 hours) and read it then. You will then get data for both days.

The S8 works on a 1200 to 1200 cycle for its "day".... this put the normal hours of darkness and sleep in the middle of the 24 hour period.

What you should do is remove power from the machine entirely after arising, (leave it at least 15 minues so it can do the air circuit "run down" to clear out of the hose/mask) then power it up again and insert the ResScan card and wait for the "remove card" message to come up. Usually I get up have a shower etc and then go through the process of writing data to the ResScan card.

If you are unable, for any reason, to write the card data from the S8 prior to 1200 hours, DO NOT attempt to write it until AFTER the next night of sleep.

If you follow this routine you should alwyas get good data!

The problem you may be encountering when writing the card at 1800 hours is that it will record no data for the current day at tha time, as the machine hasn't collected any, so when you read it into the ReScan software it dutifully shows no data.

The next day when there is data, it will not overwrite the blank data in teh REsScan software if you have the no overwrite option selected. If you deselect "no overwrite" you will get the data from the missing day, but will overwrite older detailed data with summary data, which is generally not what most indiviudal end users want.

So, get into the routine of writing data from your S8 to the ResScan card only in the mornings before 1200 hours and you should be fine.

Nvertheless I am a bit disappointed by how the software has been written (lack of exporting

That is coming around the end of 1s quarter 2008.

heavy on Hw requirements

It will run fine on most common PC configurations from the the past 3 years or so, so I'm not sure what your concern is here?!?

does not work on Vista

A Vista compatible version is due for release before then end of 2007.

lack of support on the website

Its a piece of clinical software which is somewhat hemmed in by US FDA regulatory requirements. It never going to get the sort of support that popular mass market software gets.

maybe users should start provide ResMed some feedback on it, should they care.

Individual end users do that and Resmed does respond, albeit slowly, but the intended user base is clinicans and their needs tend to get met first.

They give the impression software is a very secondary byproduct in their line of business.

Clinicians have a different need/use for it than individual end users. Individual end user software its not the main game for any of the suppliers, despite what participants here would like to think.

Cheers,

Bill

[Slinky]

If you forget to download the data before noon - go ahead and download it anyway, check your information BUT when you are done checking it out DO NOT save it.

When you download before noon the following day, the data will be there (it holds 5 nights of individual night data) THEN you can save the download and check both nights data will be there along w/all the previous.

Or .... you can go in and reset the clock back to before noon, download, then reset the clock to the correct time again.

I've done both and both work.

[DragonFire]

Bill,

thank you very much for all the info ....
I probably did not realize I was actually overwriting old detail data with summary but now I do.

Your info on the upcoming software release give a nice feeling about what is coming. Are you an insider to ResMed (Australia ...)?

It will run fine on most common PC configurations from the the past 3 years or so, so I'm not sure what your concern is here?!?

Well, I am using the only Win XP machine in my household [Server on Linux/Slackware distro, my PC is a dual boot vista (rarely)/Linux, Kids Vista wife iMac wit OS10] and it is a 2001 laptop wit a PIII 750 with 512 M Ram. My rant here is that often software packages are not very well enginered to make good use of resources. This is because I am al old assembly programmer were all bytes counted and all CPU cycles had to be accounted for ....

If you forget to download the data before noon - go ahead and download it anyway, check your information BUT when you are done checking it out DO NOT save it.

Slinky, that's great info, will save it in my bag of tricks. Thanks.

Is just a procedural issue then. I will get up, stick the card in the machine in the morning and load in the computer at night. Can also do it just a couple of time per week instead of everyday.

Overall guys thanks for all the great info's I have got out of this tread. Looking forward for the next release (Vista compatible) hoping ResMed will provide an Upgrade path, rather than paying again full price.

Cheers

Fabio

[Slinky]

If you forget to download the data before noon - go ahead and download it anyway, check your information BUT when you are done checking it out DO NOT save it.

Slinky, that's great info, will save it in my bag of tricks. Thanks.

Is just a procedural issue then. I will get up, stick the card in the machine in the morning and load in the computer at night. Can also do it just a couple of time per week instead of everyday.

I think I need to clarify: if you forget to download the data before noon - go ahead and download it anyway just to satisfy your curiosity BUT when you are done, DO NOT SAVE the download in the software. The NEXT DAY, after another night's sleep, download BEFORE NOON and the individual night's data for both nights plus the previous 3 nights will be there. THEN you can save the download in the software. The Resmeds save 5 nights of individual night's data, all data prior is rolled into the averages. Individual night data for night's previous to those 5 nights will ONLY be available if you've previously downloaded and saved it in the software.

And yes, you can just download a couple of times a week, just be sure to do it BEFORE noon if you are going to save it.

If you do a download from the machine to the card after noon, when you download the data from the card to the machine the machine and software is already reading that day's date instead of that previous night's date. So if you save that card to software download the date will have no data and the data can NOT be entered at a later date because that date was saved w/no data. I suppose I am not explaining this well.

Last night was Nov 17. If I download the card from the machine after noon the machine is indicating it is today, Nov 18. I haven't been to bed for the night of the 18th yet. If I download that card to the software, there is no data for the 18th, yet the software is reading the 18th for which there is no data. So if you save that download there is no data for the 18th. And when you download again to the software the 18th will not pick up or show any data. If you DON'T save this download to software, but rather wait, do the download to the card on the 19th BEFORE NOON the night's data for the 18th will be there and you can safely do a save. The key is the date on the machine when the card is downloaded. Have you slept yet on the night of the date the machine is using?

Only save data in the software from a card that has been downloaded from the machine BEFORE NOON.

[DragonFire]

Slinky,

thanks I did get it the first time but I was not very clear bacause two downloads are involved. Firts from the machine onto the card (this is time critical, if I understand correctly) and then from the card into the computer. What I was saying is I plan to download from my S8 Vantage to the memory card in the morning (few minutes while I shave) and then in the evening or next day or even during the weekend, download from the card into the software.

Thanks.

{off topic on} how do I quote with the name of the original author?{off topic off}

Fabio

[Slinky]

There are two ways that I know of. There may be others.

1] Is to click on the Quote in the upper right corner of their post. Just use delete to delete any part of their post you don't want to use and leave in what you do want to use. Doing it this way you must be sure NOT to delete the quote symbol(s) at the end of their post.

2] The other is to type in [ quote = " their name " ] leaving out all the spaces I've put in to keep it from actually making the rest of this a quote. Then copy and paste their quote in after the quote symbol. Then be sure to put the end quote symbol in, [ / quote ] again w/o the spaces.

[billbolton]

Your info on the upcoming software release give a nice feeling about what is coming. Are you an insider to ResMed (Australia ...)?

No, that upcoming release information came as a result of a query sent through the Resmed web site.

Cheers,

Bill

[DragonFire]

No, that upcoming release information came as a result of a query sent through the Resmed web site.

Ah, that's how you know they reply BTW, what time is it down under ?

There are two ways that I know of.

Slinky, immediatly put to use.

Thanks for all the good info's

Fabio

[Slinky]

Yer welcome. Good job!