Is my machine data capable enough

[lynx]

I just got my machine (see sig) a week ago, and while it has a chip in a card that slots in, I can't see most of the data on it via the machine's interface. I can see blower hours vs. actual therapy hours (useful), but I can't see any apneas or anything else I might be having. I think the data is just there to make sure I'm using it, rather than being all the data. Or perhaps I can pull data off the card myself with some sort of reader for my computer.

Should I demand a different machine from my doc or is this a good one?

[6PtStar]

Yes your DS400 should be the "M" Series Pro which is Fully Data Capable. Your DME may have not turned on the feature to let you read the data. Look at this link and go into the clinician menu and turn on the feature. http://www.cpap-supply.com/Articles.asp?ID=130
I will warn you that the "M" Series data off the screan is not very accurate. You need Encore Viewer and the card reader to get better data.

Jerry

[lynx]

Hmm, I noted that the Blower hours did not sync with the average session times, etc. Is that what you mean by not accurate on the screen? I will check out how to get a card reader, thanks.

[Guest]

Hmm, I noted that the Blower hours did not sync with the average session times, etc. Is that what you mean by not accurate on the screen? I will check out how to get a card reader, thanks.

The machine is able to tell when the blower is just running and you're not wearing the mask and when it's running when you are wearing it. The AHI and leak numbers are what's not very accurate because they are 7 and 30 day averages rather than your nightly data.

[sleeplessinaz]

Hi--I would ask for a new machine if you can exchange it. The Resmed Elite II w/ EPR is a great machine, compact and gives data on the LCD readout on the top of the machine. It is very accurate and I check every morning before noon to see how I did. You can get a card reader and software if you want to spend the money but the readout window works perfectly fine.

Carrie

[TheDreamer]

DS400HS is the M Series Pro, which is the same machine I have.

If you look for a subject "I've logged 45 days of usage....", where I've posted the output from EncoreViewer.

I had gone into the clinician menus, to turn on AHI display on the LCD. I've thought about going in and turning C-Flex off, but I chickening out of making changes that would show up when the RT runs reports for my doctor. Perhaps after the 3 month follow up appointment, I'll go in and try it.

The Dreamer.

[lynx]

Hi--I would ask for a new machine if you can exchange it. The Resmed Elite II w/ EPR is a great machine, compact and gives data on the LCD readout on the top of the machine. It is very accurate and I check every morning before noon to see how I did. You can get a card reader and software if you want to spend the money but the readout window works perfectly fine.

Carrie

So I am getting somewhat conflicting information. If I understand you all correctly, my machine has all the stats I need, but the LCD viewer sucks badly and I'd need a card reader to access them all. If I changed to a ResMed I might be able to access the same info more reliably from the LCD but it doesn't record any additional info, just makes it more easily available. Does that sum it up?

I'm trying to figure out if this is a battle worth fighting, I am quite capable of getting a card reader for my comp, so long as they don't cost 100s of dollars, that is. Do I need special software to interpret the raw data? Does that cost money?

[Slinky]

The Resmeds provide easier access and more data via the LCD screen than the Respironics do.

You need not only software but also a cable reader to access more information on the Respironics and even the Resmeds provide more information via software and cable reader than via the LCD screen. BUT you can do quite nicely w/just the data available via the Resmed LCD screen. I prefer the Resmed software as easier to install and use. BUT that doggone Respironics software has ONE feature I wish Resmed would utilize in their software: the Daily Events Per Hour chart.

I haven't used a Respironics M Series so I can't tell you what all data they provide via the LCD screen except that those in the know do say the Resmeds do provide more data via the LCD screen.

But I can tell you that the Resmed data via the LCD screen provides that night's 95th percentile pressure and leak, AHI, AI and HI, as well as those averages for the previous week, month, 6 months and year; and hours used, total hours used and total nights used as well

The software enhances that information a bit further w/the Median, 95th percentile and Maxium pressure and leak, graph displays of same and you can custom select the time period for data averages, print out reports, etc. or just that night's.

[araminta]

your decision on which machine might be based on several factors, all of which are very personal:
how you like to get data, is one.
but also important is how you like the way the machine relates to your own breathing rhythm.

I first chose the ResMed S8 cause most of the features seemed nifty. But in the end, I couldn't tolerate the way it had me breathing.
In the end, I chose the Respironics M series Auto, and am quite comfortable with it. And am sad to have given up the ResMed which is a much quieter machine, with a much easier to use humidifier.

But now I'm sleeping better...

[cflame1]

I'm trying to figure out if this is a battle worth fighting, I am quite capable of getting a card reader for my comp, so long as they don't cost 100s of dollars, that is. Do I need special software to interpret the raw data? Does that cost money?

There are ways of getting it... the card reader will cost $25 or more... depending on where you can find it. You have to get a MAKO DT3500, no others will work.