BIG UPDATE: NEW RESPIRONICS PR Series Auto CPAP Released!

[Mr PR]

One thing I noticed is that when I boot up the machine, it mentions a firmware version. Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but wouldnt it be possible for Respironics to update the firmware to include stats for the previous night (in addition to the 7 & 30 day average)?
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I'm sure that the firmware could get updated to show the previous night stats. I don't know how a patient would get the firmware update (maybe from the doctor who prescribed the machine?) All I know is that the machines get the firmware loaded onto them when the machine is put through what is called "Sound Test".

[blakepro]

One thing I noticed is that when I boot up the machine, it mentions a firmware version. Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but wouldnt it be possible for Respironics to update the firmware to include stats for the previous night (in addition to the 7 & 30 day average)?
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I'm sure that the firmware could get updated to show the previous night stats. I don't know how a patient would get the firmware update (maybe from the doctor who prescribed the machine?) All I know is that the machines get the firmware loaded onto them when the machine is put through what is called "Sound Test".

My guess (my hope) would be that the firmware is upgradable via the SD card slot. Just insert the SD card with the firmware upgrade file on the root level of the card and it detects it and installs automatically. Probably wouldnt want the end users to have the update files though.. I'm sure they would force you to take it to your DME even if it was a really simple procedure.

[Tamara]

Regarding GMT Offset... Mine was set at 0, so per Respironics instructions, I set it to -5.0 for Eastern Standard Time. As you indicated, Tonytexas, all my data was set back to 0! The Respironics guy seemed a little surprised, but said that the data is all still there on my card and will show up on a download. Is this true??

Regarding data downloads... The Respironics guy said that daily detail data is only reported for the last 9 therapy sessions prior to a download. Can anyone confirm this? This is not going to be a lot of help to me if I vary things such as chin strap vs. none, A-flex 3 vs. none, Swift LT vs. full-face mask, etc. and attempt to correlate this with leaks, pressures, AHIs, etc.

By the way, Respironics guy was a little alarmed that I even knew how to get into the setup screen and make this GMT change! It was as if I'd hacked into a secret service database. When I referred to the lack of information in the User's Guide, he indicated that the Provider's Guide, which I am apparently not allowed to have, has more information. In short, this is all very top-secret stuff, best left to the true experts...the same ones who never knew enough to set my GMT in the first place!

[socalmonkey]

Tamara, my experience with setting the Time Zone Offset... was that I didn't get any data off the LCD, until a day and a half later. Probably had something to do with "when" I changed that setting. So keep in mind, your machine should start showing the data on the LCD display after 12 noon local time each day (if the offset is set right).

Regarding the data downloads, that might be true. The old system only allowed 7 days of download. But since there is no patient software, how this is going to work (even with Pro software) is anybody's guess.

Did you ask the Respironics guy if there was going to be a patient version of the software?

[indy-farmer]

Here are data results from my first month (since resetting the SD card) using the PR System One!

Did you get all of this data from the LCD? Or are you using some program to help you interpret SD card data and track and plot your results? I have (I think) the same machine with an SD card and would like to know what tools you are using. Where can I get a provider manual? If these questions are redundant...be gentle...I'm a newbie.

Regards,

Indy-farmer

[Guest]

Yes, for the 14 patients in the whole world that are anal-retentive to the point that they want to view every snore they had last night , there will be a patient version software available in Spring of 2012. Seriously. I'm at a loss for words. But between then and now, by all means, hold your purchases.

[indy-farmer]

Yes, for the 14 patients in the whole world that are anal-retentive to the point that they want to view every snore they had last night

A very interesting comment, "Guest". Why would anyone want to know about CPAP machines on a CPAP forum? Crazy talk.

--Indy-farmer

[socalmonkey]

Here are data results from my first month (since resetting the SD card) using the PR System One!

Did you get all of this data from the LCD? Or are you using some program to help you interpret SD card data and track and plot your results? I have (I think) the same machine with an SD card and would like to know what tools you are using. Where can I get a provider manual? If these questions are redundant...be gentle...I'm a newbie.

Regards,

Indy-farmer

The data is from the the LCD. I reset it daily after recording the information. That way, I am charting the previous night without using the 7 day/30 day averages that the screen normally reports. I remove the SD card first. Then read the data and reset it. Somewhere in this thread, I describe the procedure in detail.

I enter this data on a spread sheet program. As I am a Mac guy, this was done in a program called Numbers. Excel can give a similar report, if you know how to build it. The bar graph/chart at the bottom is plotted automatically as the data is entered. This is better than viewing the LCD averages. That data is meaningless to me. I need to know what's happening on a day by day basis. It's a less than perfect solution... but better than nothing. Until there is software, this is how I am tracking my progress.

[rested gal]

The data is from the the LCD. I reset it daily after recording the information.

Thanks for all the detailed information you've been giving about your experiences with your new machine. Please refresh my memory, socal... does the LCD provide leak info if reset daily? I noticed your figures for "system leak" were 0% all month long.

Is "system leak" on the PR System One machine figured or shown differently from the way the leak rate is shown on an older M series auto?

That's probably been discussed. If so, I've missed it. Sorry if you've already covered it...I couldn't find it.

[socalmonkey]

Yeah, the System Leaks reported on the LCD are actually "Large Leaks". Something I almost never had before with the old machine. So far, I have yet to have a large leak (System Leak) reported. Unfortunately, it does not report the Average Mask Leak rate (for the night before), as that would be very useful. So that's the way the data crumbles.

I have to keep reminding myself... that prior to 3 months ago (one before the PR machine) - I never had a machine that reported any data. So that was about 3 1/2 years of therapy with no data. With the results I've had since then... and smoothness of the new machine... I'm pretty happy. The bottom line is that I feel really good everyday... consistently.

[shambharwani]

Still cant figure out the LCD screen backlight though. As far as I can tell, turning on the LCD backlight actually only backlights the humidity numbers (where as turning it off makes it so the humitity numbers go dark a few minutes after therapy begins.) has anyone actually seen the screen light up?

Yes, by a little torch kept at my bedside for that purpose.......

[Tamara]

I want to avoid resetting my data to 0, which is what happened when I changed GST offset from 0. Is there anything else I might do that would inadvertently zero me out? Also, when we hit the end of Daylight Savings Time in a couple of days and I change the GST offset again, is it going to zero me out again?

[shambharwani]

Yeah, the System Leaks reported on the LCD are actually "Large Leaks". Something I almost never had before with the old machine. So far, I have yet to have a large leak (System Leak) reported. Unfortunately, it does not report the Average Mask Leak rate (for the night before), as that would be very useful. So that's the way the data crumbles.

It seems the System Leak is the % of time in pressure leak which is large enough for the machine not to be able to report AHI/RERA/FL etc with any statistical accuracy. Other machines report leaks as litres/min (Resmed, M Series) but Respironics has departed from this system with the introduction of the PR Series.

The Resistance setting is for setting the leakage compensation of the mask. It is X1 for the Profile Lite Nasal Mask. On my machine the setting was 0 and I had to check with Respironics for the correct value.

[6PtStar]

Yes, for the 14 patients in the whole world that are anal-retentive to the point that they want to view every snore they had last night , there will be a patient version software available in Spring of 2012. Seriously. I'm at a loss for words. But between then and now, by all means, hold your purchases.

I can be sarcastic also guest. Without the data, when you don't feel good you don't have any idea what to do to change it. No help from my Doc or DME. Since you are saying a patient version of the software will exist that maybe you work for Respirionics. So far we patients have not been able to get a real answer out of Respirionics as to wheather it will ever exist and we can't have the real version. I hope no one buys another unit from Respirionics until the software is available. If they don't sell anything it will give them more time to work on the software.

Jerry

[socalmonkey]

A patient version of the software is coming!

From a reliable source at PR today, I was told they are definitely working on a patient version for the new PR machines. It is really hard to reach anybody by phone at PR... but if you play the game right, and stay on hold long enough... it will pay off.

So they have no idea of when it will come out... but they confirmed (several times for me) that it is being worked on.

That is great news. Another reason I believe this is true... when they updated the website with the official PR launch, they didn't remove any reference to Encore Viewer.

So PR owners (and everyone else) keep asking about it... so they know the interest/demand is there. But I truly believe it is coming.