Fisher & Paykel Sleepstyle 200 Auto Series HC254

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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roster
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Fisher & Paykel Sleepstyle 200 Auto Series HC254

Post by roster » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:35 pm

http://www.freemoneyonlinesite.com/1408 ... spironics/
ResMed and Respironics have always loomed large as the big boys of the Sleep Apnea industry. Bad news for us, the patients, because that kind of duopoly can’t be good for competition and innovation, the two forces we see as critical to moving these devices forward in terms of ease of use and comfort for patients. So we were delighted to see that Fisher & Paykel, a longtime participant in the Sleep Apnea device market, but, in our view, something of an ugly stepchild to Respironics and ResMed, has quietly and without much fanfare brought to market a device that might very well embody the most innovative steps forward yet. The Fisher & Paykel Sleepstyle 200 Auto Series HC254 was cleared by the FDA to go to market in September 2008. The machine has many nice bells and whistles, with two standing out as particularly innovative: SensAwake Technology

Just like Santa, this machine knows when you are sleeping, and knows when you’re awake. The result: no need to be good for goodness sake and just “take” the high pressure other machines will dish out during your wakeful states. Pressure is not needed when you’re awake, and can prevent some people from getting to sleep. This machine’s algorithm detects the kind of breathing you do when you’re awake and reduces the delivered pressure to its lowest, most comfortable level at this time. Similarly, the machine’s algorithm detects the kind of breathing you do when you’re asleep, and increases the pressure accordingly. Other machines try to solve for the discomfort of delivering high pressure while awake by providing a “ramp” feature that requires the user to push a button to have the pressure gradually ramp up. But that is a more crude solution than Fisher & Paykel’s SensAwake technology which does the work for you, and keeps the pressure where it needs to be until it “knows” you’re asleep. The last thing we need is something else to worry about and fumble with while we’re trying to get some shut eye. SmartStick Technology

Like many ResMed and Respironics machines, the HC254 is data-capable and records therapy effectiveness, including duration of use, AHI, leak and pressure. Unlike most ResMed and Respironics machines, however, the HC254 records this data onto a “SmartStick” at the rear of the device that can be removed and plugged into any other computer through that computer’s USB port. Most ResMed and Respironics machines record data onto a smart card of some sort that requires the purchase not only of additional software, but also of a card reader compatible with the particular brand of smart card ResMed and Respironics have developed.

The result is that users have to go through unnatural acts to actually access their detailed usage data (i.e., data not available through the display screens on the devices themselves). Unfortunately, even though in theory USB technology makes access to the data easier, as of the date of this publication, Fisher & Paykel seems to restrict the sale of the PerformanceMaximizer software for the HC254 to clinicians, which means patients will get the shaft, as usual, in terms of being able to access their detailed compliance data. We may be mistaken on this one, and welcome any of our users, or F&P themselves, providing a link to a vendor of this software that will sell us the software.

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drubin007
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Re: Fisher & Paykel Sleepstyle 200 Auto Series HC254

Post by drubin007 » Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:19 pm

I have posted about this machine before, and as best I know, there is 2 - 3 others in here that use it as well.

The software is available (in Austraulia?) I was able to find it online, however it can be obtained from other sources as well.

Everything the article describes is true. I was in the Resmed S8 for about 3 months until I was able to step up to an autp machine, and this is what the doc ordered for me...

I like it. As the article indicates, there is no "ramp" feature, and I never have to fight to get a breath in or out... the graphs look nice (my pal Pugsy uploaded some for me a few months back). The usb card (stick) works as expected...

I did have one problem, and that is with recovering data from the usb card. my DME (and the sales rep for my area) sent me a new card and it did the same thing after a few weeks. I was able to discover that by unassigning the card from the software and assigning it again, it would then work. Strange, but it works. After it did it again (a few weeks back) I asked the dme for a new machine. The next day I had a new machine and card.

I know they are trying to be one of the power players in the World of cpap, and I am all for it. I like the machine. Its more quiet then the S8 I started with, I can see basic efficacy data in a hurry on the screen (ahi, leak, hours used, etc). The software (performance maximisizer) once learned is easy to navigate. I probably have about 6 months on cpap now, split between 2 different machines, and 4 different masks (nasal mask to optilife nasal pillows, to swift lt, and now the opus 360) and I like it.

just my 2 cents worth

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roster
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Re: Fisher & Paykel Sleepstyle 200 Auto Series HC254

Post by roster » Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:10 pm

drubin,

I have a F&P simple CPAP. It is an excellent machine, very quiet and compact, and has a very nice integrated humidifier with a rugged bottle.

Regarding the HC254, I was very interested in a machine which will drop the pressure when it senses you are awake (SensAwake feature). But I understand from another user that his machine spends very little time in the SensAwake status, even on nights when he knows he awakens often. So I am question whether the machine is not so effective at lowering the pressure all of the time you are awake. What is your experience with the SensAwake feature?

Regards,

_________________
Mask: Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows and Headgear
Additional Comments: M Series Integrated Humidifier
Rooster
I have a vision that we will figure out an easy way to ensure that children develop wide, deep, healthy and attractive jaws and then obstructive sleep apnea becomes an obscure bit of history.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ycw4uaX ... re=related

drubin007
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Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 7:31 am
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Re: Fisher & Paykel Sleepstyle 200 Auto Series HC254

Post by drubin007 » Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:54 am

Hard to say. For me, at least the it seems to be ok... I used the ramp feature when I had the S8 and personally, never had problems. I never tried without the ramp feature, and think it was hard getting air for the first few minutes, but was fine after that.

With the F&P I never have problems getting air or exhaling... I know everyone is different, but thats my experience. The reports do show sense awake detections. I am not too saavy at uploading pictures to here and am about to run out of the house, but if you search for this model on here Pugsy helped me out some time back and uploaded some of the graphs.

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iI also have a fisher and paykel, it does't ramp down so i can get to sleep.

Re: Fisher & Paykel Sleepstyle 200 Auto Series HC254

Post by iI also have a fisher and paykel, it does't ramp down so i can get to sleep. » Wed Sep 02, 2015 10:25 pm

roster wrote:drubin,

I have a F&P simple CPAP. It is an excellent machine, very quiet and compact, and has a very nice integrated humidifier with a rugged bottle.

Regarding the HC254, I was very interested in a machine which will drop the pressure when it senses you are awake (SensAwake feature). But I understand from another user that his machine spends very little time in the SensAwake status, even on nights when he knows he awakens often. So I am question whether the machine is not so effective at lowering the pressure all of the time you are awake. What is your experience with the SensAwake feature?

Regards,

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Re: Fisher & Paykel Sleepstyle 200 Auto Series HC254

Post by Wulfman... » Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:07 pm

[b]iI also have a fisher and paykel, it does't ramp down so i can get to sleep.[/b] wrote:
roster wrote:drubin,

I have a F&P simple CPAP. It is an excellent machine, very quiet and compact, and has a very nice integrated humidifier with a rugged bottle.

Regarding the HC254, I was very interested in a machine which will drop the pressure when it senses you are awake (SensAwake feature). But I understand from another user that his machine spends very little time in the SensAwake status, even on nights when he knows he awakens often. So I am question whether the machine is not so effective at lowering the pressure all of the time you are awake. What is your experience with the SensAwake feature?

Regards,
It might help if you'd describe what you've specifically tried and what the pressure settings are in your machine.....and, exactly which model of F&P machine you have.

Just quoting another post and using some brief statement as your user name isn't much to go on.

It SHOULD drop down in pressure if you're hitting the Ramp button.
Do you have a copy of the setup instructions?
Do you know how to get into the setup menu?


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