M Series Pro vs. S8 Elite II - LCD Info & Software

[REMDeprived]

Hello,

I am about to purchase my first CPAP machine, and I need some help choosing! I definitely want one that has full data capability. I will probably purchase the software/card reader later.

I have narrowed down my choices to the Respironics M SERIES PRO or ResMed S8 ELITE II. I would like to do a side-by-side chart comparison of the daily information available on the LCD. Can anyone tell me, for each machine, if the following daily information is available on the LCD screen?:

apneas
hypopneas
AHI
system leaks
pressure
snores
hours of use
length and time of apnea and hypopnea occurences
anything I may have missed in the list above

Also, any tips on comparing the software features for each machine -- EncoreViewer vs. ResScan 3.7? Any major differences?

Thanks very much for your help!!!

~ REMDeprived

[cinco777]

REMdeprived wrote

I have narrowed down my choices to the Respironics M SERIES PRO or ResMed S8 ELITE II. I would like to do a side-by-side chart comparison of the daily information available on the LCD. Can anyone tell me, for each machine, if the following daily information is available on the LCD screen?:

apneas
hypopneas
AHI
system leaks
pressure
snores
hours of use
length and time of apnea and hypopnea occurences

If you are going to buy your own machine, I highly recommend that you buy an Auto CPAP. It is not much more costly than the PRO or S8 Elite II and will allow you to self-titrate if you need to, plus will allow you to use a range of pressures if, for example, you have a higher # of sleep events during REM as many folks do (such as Pugsy).

For the Respironics machines, the LCD reports AHI (no separate counts for Apneas or Hypopneas), system leak (simple avg not a weighted avg), 90% pressure, therapy Usage (hh:mm/night), plus the basic machine accumulated #s: Therapy Hours, Blower Hours, and Total Sessions. Please be aware that the AHI, System Leak, 90% Pressure, and Therapy Usage/night are reported only as 7-day and 30-day averages. There is no single night # reported by Respironics (although you can reset Therapy Usage and get something that is close to a single night #). Here are two threads that you may find informative that address the Respironics LCD reporting and accuracy:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44738&p=399547#p399537

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44484&p=397330#p397089

[rested gal]

ok...talking about ONLY what can show in the LCD on both those machines:

apneas -- ResMed Yes, Respironics No.

hypopneas -- ResMed Yes, Respironics No.

AHI -- ResMed Yes, Respironics Yes.

system leaks -- ResMed Yes, Respironics Yes.

pressure -- ResMed Yes, Respironics Yes.

snores -- ResMed No, Respironics No.

hours of use -- ResMed Yes, Respironics Yes.

length and time of apnea and hypopnea occurences -- ResMed No, Respironics No.

anything I may have missed in the list above -- I'd mention that ResMed will show "last night's data" as well as 7 day and 30 day running averages. Respironics does not show "last night's data." Respironics shows only a 7 day and 30 day running average.

I personally want to see "just last night" data. I'm not the least bit interested in running averages. I want to see what happened during the most recent use, since I might be trying a different mask, or trying "no tape", or a different pressure, etc. I want to see data for just "that session." ResMed lets you see that in the LCD. Respironics does not. There's a cumbersome work-around to reset the Respironics data to zero before each night, but that involves getting into the clinical menu.

If a person were not going to get software, and were going to use only the LCD info, I think ResMed is much, MUCH better for that.

However, If a person were going to get software, I personally think Respironics's software is better than ResMed's. Just my personal preference. Actually, of all the various "cpap" softwares, I think Puritan Bennett's Silverlining is far and away the most informative.

A problem about Respironics software though ... there is no easily acquired Encore software for users who get the newest Philips Respironics System One machines. The Encore Pro and Encore Viewer softwares that worked with the M series machines can't be used with the PR System One machines. PR System One machines require Encore Pro 2, which is not available to us lowly "patients." I personally would not get a Philips Respironis System One machine until I could find software, one way or another, for it.

[rise&shiner]

I have used 3 different auto cpaps. The Respirnoics M Auto Aflex, The sandman auto and the REsmed Autoset 8 II. I didn't like the Respironics M model 510 at all. Didn't like the exhale and inhale cadence didn't match mine at all. Didn't like the noise. Didn't like the software. Plus the humidifier didn't work.
I now have the Resmed Autoset II with 4 Hii humidifier, which I like much better. It is real quiet, I can tell if my mask is leaking, I like the data on the LCD screen, so I don't feel so bad that I don't have the software yet. The only thing that was better on the REspironics was the ease of cleaning the humidifier which didn't matter since it was broken anyways.

When I had mad my sleep study they used the sandman auto Hc with built in Humidifier. I really like this machine the best but the preferred provider in my area does not carry it which I don't get it since the sleep clinic is the #1 sleep clinic in my area and would prefer everyone of their patients were on the sandman. The software is also really easy to set up and use the LCD screen gives a lot specific information and is also extremely quiet. Also I like that it followed my exhale and inhale pattern and was able to adjust itself to my breathing cadence the best of all 3. I have also heard that the Intellipap is also excellent but I again, I didn't have a provider in network that I could get this from and out didn't want to pay out of network difference 20% co-pay versus 50% copay.

The most important thing is finding the right mask, I am on my 5th Full face mask and still haven't find one that works. If you are a nasal breather you will have a much easier time finding a mask that works. Us mother breathers have a much harder time.

OOps almost forgot the new Respironics Sytem Pro is supposed to make circles over the M seriese but I just don't trust Rspironics quality control