Fresca low-flow CPAP. How does it work?

[D.H.]

This is a new type of CPAP that somehow can work with a much lower pressure than a standard CPAP. From what I can gather, it will work only with the dedicated nasal pillow interface that comes with this system.

Does anybody understand how it can work with significantly less pressure that a standard CPAP?

Link ===> https://www.mpo-mag.com/contents/view_b ... s-fda-nod/

[chunkyfrog]

You mean, "how does anybody know it works?"
Maybe it doesn't.
The presense of .com in the page does not indicate impartiality.

[prodigyplace]

Quote from the article.

FRESCA's novel, patented SmartValve technology which enables the system to treat OSA with far less airflow than conventional CPAP systems, and has the potential to solve many of the complaints that cause sleep apnea sufferers to abandon therapy or refuse to even try CPAP.

You mean they are eliminating clueless DMEs and letting users adjust as needed?

[prodigyplace]

When I first saw the title I thought they were advocating this to treat Apnea.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com ... 1LS7yL.jpg

[jnk...]

"LPAP."

Cute.

Might even work well for some, depending:

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis ... 9638A1.pdf

Whaddya think, PR?

.

Hmmmmmm

Capture.JPG (42.79 KiB) Viewed 1132 times

[Righteous]

My understanding is that for CPAP to work, you need to get to at least certain pressures to maintain the airway open. I don't see how "low flow" is going to do that unless I'm missing something. If you read the patent (thanks for the link jnk...) I see lots of talk about a fancy valve to allow expiration relief (seems like a solved problem) but nothing about how lower flow can be used to treat OSA. Maybe someone can dig something up we are missing, but it seems like marketing talk to me at the moment.

[D.H.]

I don't get what there is about this device that would allow it to deliver lower pressure than conventional a CPAP and still deliver effective therapy. At least why any of the designers would even think that this would be the case!

[Righteous]

Everyone is looking to make a buck... like the "micro cpap" devices. (https://www.ebay.com/i/253383072321?chn=ps) Hopefully the FDA deals with them.

[prodigyplace]

Everyone is looking to make a buck... like the "micro cpap" devices. (https://www.ebay.com/i/253383072321?chn=ps) Hopefully the FDA deals with them.

You mean this "snake-oil" idea? They started crowd funding in 2015 and, according to their site have not released a product yet. It claims to use "micro-blowers" powered by static electricity generated during your normal breathing.

http://www.fundairing.com/

[jnk...]

Here is a succinct summary:

A unitary valve assembly removably located inside the exterior profile of a nasal pillow mask uses positive airway pressure from a low-flow hose to automatically create an on-demand therapeutic air splint in the pharynx. During inspiration the mask's valving system allows room air to be inspired. During exhalation another valve governs therapeutic backpressure equal to the prescribed pressure setting of the CPAP blower machine. The mask may be worn when the CPAP blower machine is off, and systems are provided for turning the CPAP blower machine on only when needed.-- https://patents.justia.com/assignee/fresca-medical-inc

As I read it, the technology can be thought of as sort of a marriage between the technology of standard PAP and that of those irritating Provent/Theravent-torture band-aid thingies.

They seem to be trying to make low FLOW, not really so much low pressure, as I read it. They hope that reduction in flow will negate the need for a humidifier. And they hope that allowing breathe-through with their double-venting (one for in and one for out) mechanism will allow the blower to remain off until needed--with the nasal-pillow-ish mask still supposedly remaining comfortable for the user to wear with no blower flow.

At least that's what the patent I found seems to imply.

I don't think it will take the place of true CPAP anytime soon, but if they can perfect the concept over the years, it maybe could get there. Just my personal take on nothing more than the drawings and descriptions.

At this point in the industry, nothing much is gonna take off until ResMed appropriates it, as I see things. But I applaud the thinking outside the boxy blower/mask model of today.

The issues that I think possible? Mask will likely be bulkier, more awkward, and heavier than my beloved P10. The hose will need to be rigid enough not to be pinched off, so it will likely not be much easier to ignore than present tubing technology, even if smaller. I believe that either the mask will be uncomfortable without flow OR there will have to be some sensor/switch for engaging the vents, which opens up a whole 'nuther can of worms for having that stuff near the face. But the biggest issue of all is that the sensing technology of ResMed for judging treatment efficacy will not likely be applicable to this technology, making it inferior for quality of treatment and monitoring quality of treatement.

But those are just short-term hurdles that could be jumped eventually in the years to come.

Just my take based partly on guesses. And I'm probably wrong. I often am. (Except about SoClean. I'm right about that. SoClean is STUPID BAD technology! )

[Righteous]

As I read it, the technology can be thought of as sort of a marriage between the technology of standard PAP and that of those irritating Provent/Theravent-torture band-aid thingies.

Yeah... after rereading it a number of times, I think that's an accurate read. At the moment I wouldn't qualify it as "BREAKING NEWS" like the webpage insists. Maybe it could be more comfortable, but I tried those provent things before and thought I was going to suffocate.

Just my take. And I'm probably wrong. I often am. (Except about SoClean. I'm right about that. SoClean is STUPID BAD technology! )

I like you! You're funny!

[jnk...]

If I were the Fresca people, I would have aimed at the snoring market and attempted to go non-medical FIRST, THEN inched my way into the medical market.

But hey, I ain't on their payroll, so please nobody pass on that advice to them.

If the vents can silently and safely be engaged and disengaged AND if they can sense events with all that going on, they may have something.

[chunkyfrog]

Whoever owns the Fresca brand of soft drink really should be lighting a fire under their legal team . . .

[jnk...]

Whoever owns the Fresca brand of soft drink really should be lighting a fire under their legal team . . .

Perhaps a free case of the drink will be included in the purchase price.

[prodigyplace]

Whoever owns the Fresca brand of soft drink really should be lighting a fire under their legal team . . .

As far as I know, Coca-Cola does not claim that their Fresca has any medicinal applications. That makes this a different market.