Working on a project and new to the forum

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
bmfmancini
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Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by bmfmancini » Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:49 am

Hello All!,

I am new to the forum and also suffer from OSA

I have been on cpap for 1 year and in that year while going through the learning curve
I always wished there was an alarm for when my mask would fall off or was not fitting right

well I have been working on designing a small device that will work with most machines to bring that functionality
weather its a base model cpap machine or a full featured device this will connect to it

I am in the process of putting the design together for testing etc

why am I posting this ?
I would like to know from the community what you think ?
would you find this type of function useful ?

Please let me know
Have a great day !

http://www.seanmancini.com

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by ChicagoGranny » Wed Sep 30, 2015 2:52 pm

bmfmancini wrote:would you find this type of function useful ?
No.

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Peaceful sleeper
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by Peaceful sleeper » Wed Sep 30, 2015 3:03 pm

Hi,
Welcome to the forum! I haven't been a CPAP user as long as you, but honestly have not felt the need for a device like this.
Best wishes, though!

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Jay Aitchsee
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by Jay Aitchsee » Wed Sep 30, 2015 3:53 pm

Hello,
I've been using CPAP for over 8 years and I've never felt the need for a leak alert device (usually the leak itself wakes me up). I believe some machines come with such a feature (or used to). I can see where it might be beneficial for newbies who take their masks off in the night without realizing it, though.

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TheDuke
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by TheDuke » Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:19 pm

I am a long-time XPAP patient, and I have no interest in such a device. I use a nasal mask with straps, and have never had the mask come off. I have occasionally had leaks (likely from turning over and bumping the facepiece) but it is not a real problem.

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Goofproof
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by Goofproof » Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:28 pm

11 years in, never had a mask come off I didn't know about. (Mask hook ears broken). Power out yes a few, woke up panicked and alive. Machine has alert mode but my ears plug, I wouldn't hear it. Jim
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chunkyfrog
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by chunkyfrog » Thu Oct 01, 2015 4:01 am

I think the machines made for infants do.
So few adults would need it that it would probably be a liability to make.

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LSAT
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by LSAT » Thu Oct 01, 2015 7:43 am

I think that one of the major mfg would have this available if they thought it was important' They could incorporate it very cheaply.

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archangle
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by archangle » Thu Oct 01, 2015 8:36 am

It's a great idea. I've suggested this several times.

Are you thinking of sensing the pressure drop from a large leak, or some sort of flow sensor?

Design it right and it could also be useful for people who take their mask off at night in their sleep.

Many people who take off their mask "in their sleep" will not only take the mask off, they'll turn off the machine, and put the mask and tubing away. Personally, I think they actually woke up and turned the machine off, but go back to sleep and forget it.

An alert device should be configured for various levels of "wake test" type of shutoff function. Some people accidentally get big leaks and don't need a "wake test" function. Some take actions to turn off the CPAP. You'd need your alarm to not only handle large leaks, it should also alert for turning the machine off. Think of it as being like someone who turns off their alarm clock and goes back to sleep.

You should also make it configurable for loudness and duration of alarm.
Have a programmable timer function so you can take a bathroom break without setting the alarm off.
It also could alert for the machine failing or power failure.

If you're thinking of selling it, remember that the medical mafia is protective of their territory.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by ChicagoGranny » Thu Oct 01, 2015 8:47 am

archangle wrote:An alert device should be configured for various levels of "wake test" type of shutoff function. Some people accidentally get big leaks and don't need a "wake test" function. Some take actions to turn off the CPAP. You'd need your alarm to not only handle large leaks, it should also alert for turning the machine off. Think of it as being like someone who turns off their alarm clock and goes back to sleep.

You should also make it configurable for loudness and duration of alarm.
Have a programmable timer function so you can take a bathroom break without setting the alarm off.
It also could alert for the machine failing or power failure.
I believe you are speaking of an adult sitter overnight.

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Jack_Russel_Fan
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by Jack_Russel_Fan » Fri Oct 02, 2015 4:21 am

Sleep Master Java now has a monitoring feature that can alarm on power failure, mask off auto shutdown, user shutdown, etc.

http://www.sleepmaster.org/sleep-master-java.html

Tom

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zoocrewphoto
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by zoocrewphoto » Fri Oct 02, 2015 4:32 am

archangle wrote: Many people who take off their mask "in their sleep" will not only take the mask off, they'll turn off the machine, and put the mask and tubing away. Personally, I think they actually woke up and turned the machine off, but go back to sleep and forget it.

This is me. Sometimes, I remember waking up and having trouble. Sometimes I vaguely remember turning it off like it is morning, only it must not have been. Sometimes, I don't remember at all. I don't put it away, but I do turn it off and leave the hose and mask on the floor next to the bed. If I wake up for a bathroom break, I will put it back on.

Honestly, what I would like is something that picks up on my snoring and then produces an alarm. Something that I can put across the room so that I have to get up to silence it. If I get up, I will feel the need for the bathroom, and I will return awake enough that I will put the mask back on. It is too easy for me to roll over and fall asleep without knowing what I am doing. I was known for sleep walking as a kid. And when I am really tired, I use a backup clock across the room, or I will turn off my alarm and go back to sleep. Most days, I set my alarm so that it will do 3 snoozes before the 4th alarm which is when I need to get up. Most days, I do not remember all 4, yet I turned them all off.

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Who would have thought it would be this challenging to sleep and breathe at the same time?

bmfmancini
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by bmfmancini » Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:30 am

Thank you all for all the replies !

A little more about my idea

It would go between the cpap machine and the wall outlet so if the cpap machine turns off either because of the mask coming off or someone turning it off then an alarm would sound from some small groups ive been working with the feedback i get is that users would rather be woken up for a couple of minutes to relize the mask has come off then it come off shortly after they have fallen as sleep and feel tired the next day due to sleep apnea

I am aiming for this to be a universal device which will connect to any cpap machine either low end or full featured so everyone can have this
I am working so it can be fully customizable in terms of alarm sounds and loudness
Have a great day !

http://www.seanmancini.com

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by ChicagoGranny » Fri Oct 02, 2015 12:10 pm

bmfmancini wrote:It would go between the cpap machine and the wall outlet so if the cpap machine turns off either because of the mask coming off or someone turning it off then an alarm would sound
Maybe I am just stating the obvious, but ...

1. Most CPAPers put on the mask, then get in bed and connect to the machine, and then let the machine AutoStart or press the on button. Your alarm needs to be off during this time. Then once the machine starts up, your alarm should be on and no one is going to want to, or even be able to, reach your device to turn it on.

2. Things often happen in bed which would mean you don't want the alarm to sound. There would need to be a way to turn the alarm off while lying in the bed.

3. Some of us use Power Off alarms to warn us of power outages while we sleep. Instead of having to use two devices, you might want to consider incorporating this in your device.

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zoocrewphoto
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Re: Working on a project and new to the forum

Post by zoocrewphoto » Sat Oct 03, 2015 1:37 am

ChicagoGranny wrote:
bmfmancini wrote:It would go between the cpap machine and the wall outlet so if the cpap machine turns off either because of the mask coming off or someone turning it off then an alarm would sound
Maybe I am just stating the obvious, but ...

1. Most CPAPers put on the mask, then get in bed and connect to the machine, and then let the machine AutoStart or press the on button. Your alarm needs to be off during this time. Then once the machine starts up, your alarm should be on and no one is going to want to, or even be able to, reach your device to turn it on.

2. Things often happen in bed which would mean you don't want the alarm to sound. There would need to be a way to turn the alarm off while lying in the bed.

3. Some of us use Power Off alarms to warn us of power outages while we sleep. Instead of having to use two devices, you might want to consider incorporating this in your device.

These are reasons why I would be more interested in alarm that responds to snoring. It would not be connected to the cpap machine at all. It would only need to sound the alarm if i am snoring, and that would only happen if I were sleeping without the cpap on. No worries about taking the mask off to use the bathroom, or when I get up in the morning.

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Mask: Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
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Who would have thought it would be this challenging to sleep and breathe at the same time?