Comparison Charts: CPAP Machines & Software

[REMDeprived]

Hello,

I am in the process of deciding which regular CPAP machine (capable of full data reporting) and software I would prefer. I'd like to decide before meeting with my sleep doctor in a few days, so I need to wrap this up by tomorrow. (I'm going to ask him if he will prescribe an auto CPAP, but due to insurance constraints I suspect that may be difficult.)

I realized today that one of the reasons that I'm having such difficulty deciding is that I don't have complete information for each machine's LCD information and software features. I'm trying to piece it all together in chart form so I can compare features more easily. I've searched forum threads, but it isn't easy to find the information I need all in one place. My attention span and concentration aren't too keen, and my brain just can't process bits of information gleaned from here and there right now.

If someone could look over the CPAP Machine LCD Screen Comparison Chart (below) and let me know of any corrections needed, that would be wonderful.

[image deleted]

Thank you!!!!

~ REMDeprived

[Pugsy]

https://www.cpap.com/viewImage.php?PNum ... e_five.jpg

For Encore viewer software report examples have you checked the above link? Scroll forward or back to see different images.

[REMDeprived]

[post deleted]

[briank]

The software graphs still look valid through Sandman Therapy 1.4.

You might also add that ST 1.4 also reports the history of settings changes, so you can easily determine what settings were in effect when you achieved a particular set of results.

Perhaps this thread should be sticky.

[REMDeprived]

[post deleted]

[Pugsy]

Does anyone know where I can find the EncoreViewer user's manual, so I can look at the software's features more closely before deciding?

I purchased EncoreViewer from cpap.com. There was no user manual. I have never heard of or seen one. EncoreViewer has a Help glossary that likely might explain things a bit for you but that doesn't help you now.

The only thing I wish that EncoreViewer gave me is the length of an apnea event. ResScan for ResMed machines will give you length of apnea but won't give you snores or flow limitations. I thought it was more important to see snores and flow limitations so I opted for EncoreViewer and the Respironics machines. I believe that ResScan lets you "expand" the timeline on the reports. Otherwise, not a huge difference. The basics are Apneas, Hypopneas and the Indexes, along with leak data. With Respironics you have to do the leak math yourself. With ResMed they do the intentional vent/flow rate for you so any leak shown is excess leak.

EncoreViewer is offered simply to let the patient see the data that is collected. No changes in RX can be done with it.

ResScan is software that is/was offered to doctors and DME's to monitor and change the Rx on the machines. Since users can actually change their settings via the software, ResMed says that patients shouldn't have it so they have decided not to allow its sale to patients. So the only place now to get the ResScan software is through a supplier in Australia. For this reason if I were in the market for a machine and software I would thumb my nose at Resmed. Just sort of ticks me off but that is my own personal opinion.

You just need to look at the report examples and decide which one suits your needs the best.
Neither Respironics or ResMed will note centrals. Respironics will flag "non responsive" but that doesn't mean it was a central.

I personally like the looks of EncoreViewer better but others like ResScan.

[Hawthorne]

[quote][EncoreViewer is offered simply to let the patient see the data that is collected. No changes in RX can be done with it.
/quote]

You CAN, however with Encore Viewer, change the prescribed pressure setting in the setup menu on the machine and that new pressure (or pressure range) will show up in the charts on your computer when you download the data.

I don't think that was mentioned in the thread and thought it should be noted.