M Series Auto A-Flex vs. S8 Vantage

[jplehn]

Hello everyone,
I have been using the S7 Lightweight for 2.5 years somewhat successfully, but now I want to upgrade to an APAP. I have a setting of 8 on my CPAP. I have had less success with masks, but recently I settled on the New Version Breeze SleepGear. Between the M Series Auto A-Flex vs. the S8 Vantage, which would you recommend and why? I would like some daily feedback on my sleeping habits, but currently I do not use any software.
Thanks,
Jose

[upm903]

I just had this Beauty 10 days ago.
When I was at the Lab they put a machine that had an exhaust similar to a plane exhaust. I almost decided to stop that CPAP therapy.
I decided to buy it any way and try it. When I got my M series I couldnt believe the Comfort it is giving while sleeping.
For sure I would recommend it - Go For it.
I have also the Respironics Encore Viewer which gives detail reports from the smartcard written on the M Series.
If u r interested in reports from the New Encore Viewer from Respironics I can do it for you . Just copy your SmartCard to disk and Email file to UPMCPAP@hotmail.com. So you just need a card reader.

Good Luck

Sam

[billbolton]

I would like some daily feedback on my sleeping habits, but currently I do not use any software.

The information on the S8 display is easier to access, easier to read than on the Respironics M series, if you don't want to get into using data downloads to a PC/laptop.

Cheers,

Bill

[upm903]

Do they have a smartcard too ?
How do u see the reports ? Is it dispalyed on the Machine itself ?

I dont see any other solution but having a software - that you cannot avoid.

My solution is based on saving you the money that you will spend on the software. I will run the reports for if u send me tha data

[Catnapper]

My experience with those 2 machines may not be the same that you would have. I preferred the M auto for the exhalation relief. Breathing felt so much easier and more comfortable. The Vantage only gives exhalation relief in CPAP mode, not in APAP if I remember correctly.

I also liked the reports from the M better, even with the occasional missed day. I liked the way the report was continuous instead of starting over every hour.

I eventually switched to the M auto bi-pap, and like it best of all.

I was lucky apparently, as my M machines were all quieter than the Vantage or the Escape.

I do believe that both machines did what was needed to deal with the apnea. You asked for preference, and that was my experience.

[Guest]

I have not had the opportunity to use the new Respironics M Series Auto w/A-Flex.

However, I do have both the Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR, my original CPAP and the Resmed S8 AutoSet Vantage. In between these two I did buy a new Respironics pre-M Series Auto w/C-Flex (the beloved "tank" or "classic"). I got excellent therapy w/the "tank" - but - I missed the easy access to my nightly data w/the Elite. I did get the EncorePro software and reader cable for the Respironics but it was difficult to install and I finally had to have my 'puter guru install it for me and I didn't find the EncorePro data as easy to understand or use as the Resmed AutoScan software which installed easily first try for me and I better understood the data and graphs of the AutoScan software.

When the opportunity to purchase a lightly used Vantage (505 hours on it) complete I sold the Respironics to my son in law and bought the Vantage. Despite having the Resmed software I LIKE having easy access any time during the night or in the morning before noon to check my data. It is much easier to access the data on the Resmed LED screen altho the data is not as complete as via the software for either brand of machine.

The data available via the Resmed LED screen is the Pressure at which or below which you spent 95% of the night, the leak rate at or below which you experienced during the night, your AHI, AI and HI and the averages of the same for the previous week, month, 6 months and year after you used your Resmed that long. In addition it reports the number of hours you've used the device, the number of nights you used the device and the number of nights since you first used the device plus the hours you used it that night via the LED screen. Before getting the software and cable reader I wrote each night's data into a file that I kept.

The caveat w/both brands is that you must check the data before noon as at that time the previous night's data is rolled over into the total averages. This is due to the internal, 24 hour, noon to noon, clock they utilize.

My pressure is also set at 8 cms.

[jplehn]

Thank you to all those who have contributed to the discussion. Here is what I gather are the main pros and cons mentioned in the forum:

(1) S8 Vantage
PROS: Display shows good info, so little need for software
CONS: Exhalation relief available with CPAP, but not APAP, mode; expensive

(2) M Series Auto w/ A-FLEX
PROS: Only machine offering APAP mode with exhalation relief; software is excellent
CONS: Display does not show much data, so must use software; integrated humidifier may leak and does not work very well, so getting the Fisher & Paykel HC150 is recommended

Does this summarize the pros/cons of these two units?

[DreamStalker]

Thank you to all those who have contributed to the discussion. Here is what I gather are the main pros and cons mentioned in the forum:

(1) S8 Vantage
PROS: Display shows good info, so little need for software
CONS: Exhalation relief available with CPAP, but not APAP, mode; expensive

(2) M Series Auto w/ A-FLEX
PROS: Only machine offering APAP mode with exhalation relief; software is excellent
CONS: Display does not show much data, so must use software; integrated humidifier may leak and does not work very well, so getting the Fisher & Paykel HC150 is recommended

Does this summarize the pros/cons of these two units?

Actually, the AFLEX machine does show the same data on the LED display as the ResMed machine and the HC 150 is also much better than the ResMed H3i integrated humidifier too ... otherwise, sounds about right.

[Jeffchoy]

I have a M series with A-Flex auto cpap. I love it very much and is very comfortable. I will recommended it. You can switch to C-Flex or normal Cpap too.

[quote="jplehn"]Hello everyone,
I have been using the S7 Lightweight for 2.5 years somewhat successfully, but now I want to upgrade to an APAP. I have a setting of 8 on my CPAP. I have had less success with masks, but recently I settled on the New Version Breeze SleepGear. Between the M Series Auto A-Flex vs. the S8 Vantage, which would you recommend and why? I would like some daily feedback on my sleeping habits, but currently I do not use any software.
Thanks,
Jose

[Slinky]

Pretty good assessment, EXCEPT, the expense of the Vantage depends entirely on whether you have insurance or not. The Vantage, as well as the Respironics A-Flex, are the same insurance code as a bare bones straight CPAP not even capable of compliance data so the "cost" remains the same to the patient for any of the 3. If you DON'T have insurance coverage then, yes, the Vantage is more expensive. And EASE of data access via the LED screen is also a pro for the Vantage over the Respironics A-Flex or any of the Respironics devices.

[billbolton]

he HC 150 is also much better than the ResMed H3i integrated humidifier too

The HC150 can definitely deliver a higher level of sustained humidification that any of the integrated humdifiers from any supplier. Whether it is "much better" is something else entirely, as it will depend on the individual needs of a user.

Personally I find the H3i meets all my humidification needs when it 's on a middle range setting, so an HC-150 would not do anything particularly useful for me and being non-integrated it's not a great travel-use option either!

How much humification each user needs will depend on a number of factors, such as personal physiology, geographic factors, ambient climate etc, etc.

Cheers,

Bill

[DreamStalker]

he HC 150 is also much better than the ResMed H3i integrated humidifier too

The HC150 can definitely deliver a higher level of sustained humidification that any of the integrated humdifiers from any supplier. Whether it is "much better" is something else entirely, as it will depend on the individual needs of a user.

Personally I find the H3i meets all my humidification needs when it 's on a middle range setting, so an HC-150 would not do anything particularly useful for me and being non-integrated it's not a great travel-use option either!

How much humification each user needs will depend on a number of factors, such as personal physiology, geographic factors, ambient climate etc, etc.

Cheers,

Bill

You are absolutely right Bill. So I guess I should clarify my vague use of the term "much better".

By “better”, I mean the HC150 is more likely to handle a broader set user humidification needs for variables such as personal physiology, geographic factors, ambient climate etc, etc.

If all those variables are similar to Bill’s, and you travel, the HC150 may not be a better integrated HH … but the ResMed H3i still won’t work with the AFLEX machine whereas the HC150 will work with either machine

In addition, the HC150 has an infinite variable control knob instead of 6 individual settings; it has a larger reservoir so that the water lasts longer; it has ambient tracking so that it senses the ambient climate and adjusts the heat to maintain a constant humidification level while you sleep; and as Bill said, it can deliver a higher level of sustained humidification than any other integrated HH.

OK, "much" is a bit harder to defend since it is a very relative term. Having used both the H3i and the HC150, I still think the HC150 is much better.

Oh ... and regarding travel, the H3i is only about 3/4 the size of the HC150 by volume -- so depending on the size of your travel bag, the H3i may indeed be a better option if you could figure out how to make it work with the AFLEX machine.