Need Help Deciding-Intellipap vs S9

[louie1961]

I am a 6+ year CPAP user, and have no real problems with compliance, and therapy is generally effective. I currently have phillips (respironics) M series. It is my second M series, and it is dying. I seem to keep pulling these off the night stand, and they get water damaged when the humidifier empties into the blower.

My peeves with the Phillips machine are that some nights, the noise really bothers me for some reason, and other nights, I do not even notice it. Other than the noise and the water damage issues, I have no complaints. I love the c-flex, and I typically fall asleep in minutes, without using the ramp function. My minimum pressure is set at 9 cm H2O. My 90% pressure is reported at 10.8 cm H2O. I use a Swift FX or a Swift LT mask, depending on the mood I am in. The LT gets the duty most nights, as it is more comfortable (for me) and seals better. The FX is FAR quieter though.

I am contemplating getting either: 1) the respironics pr system one, or 2) the devilbiss intellipap, or the 3) Resmed S(.

I am a little gun shy of the phillips because of the noise and because in the past they wouldn't honor their warranty because of the water damage not being covered. I know the new model supposedly fixes that issue, but their business practices leave me a little leery.

So i am looking for suggestions especially from folks with experience with more than one of these machines. Any input is appreciated.

[ufo13]

Louie:

I have used just about every major brand machine over the aprox. 15 years I have been on cpap. They ALL have given me very good therapy, and over the years have become smaller, better, and very quiet! To answer your question ---of the machines you mentioned I would go with the ResMed S9 auto (the BEST cpap machine I have ever used, bar- none) and for me has given supburb service! If cost is a concern, I would go with the Devilbiss Intellipap for second choice. You will probably get opinions and advice from other forum members which will help you to make a good choice in a machine to buy. Hope this helps!

All the best!

Steve,
ufo13

[sister]

hi,
I don't have one yet but my husband has just gotten a new Resmed S9 (a month ago) and he loves it.
Very quiet and no problems at all.

I intend to get one just like his as soon as I am due for a new machine in November of this year.
Thanks!

[louie1961]

i figured there would be lots of votes for the S9. Since I am paying out of pocket, is the extra cost really worth it?

[Pugsy]

Software for the S9 is easily obtained. Software for the Intellipap, I am not sure of. Could someone using this machine clarify?
It does offer on screen data though. If software is not an issue for you then the Intellipap price is alluring. There are some members here that do use this machine and simply love it. ResMed users will brag on their machine, it is to be expected. While not as many Intellipap users here, there are some and I bet they just haven't seen your post yet. You might alter your subject topic and mention Intellipap to catch their eye.

[pj2448]

I've been on XPAP for 16 + years and have used a ResMed Spirit, Respironics Remstar Auto, and P&B 420E. The P&B 420E ended up being my favorite, but its not sold anymore and is getting old. To top that, the Covidien Sandman model that replaced it is no longer on the market, so that's not an option. I decided I needed a new machine and I have just purchased an Intellipap and am now getting used to it. The Intellipap has got a whole lot of adjustability going way beyond upper limit and lower limit. It has exhale relief in three levels, it has inhale and exhale rounding in 5 levels, and also has adjustable triggers for apnea response and hypopnea response. It also has AHI on the front panel, so a person can get a quick reference how they slept if they desire. I do not have the s/w package at this time. Perhaps the best selling point is that the Intellipap w/ Humidifier can be had for around $420.00 - way, way below what a ResMed S9 sells for. About the only drawback I see at this time is the humidifier. The humidifier works just fine, but I don't care for the design to refil it or clean it.

Definately look at the Devilbiss Intellipap Auto.

[Emilia]

Software for the Intellipap is readily available at our host's site as well secondwindcpap and other online vendors. It runs about $145-$150 for the complete package of software, module, SD card, card reader, and cables. That price plus the price of the machine/humidifier is still well below the cost of the S9. So if cost is a factor, the Intellipap is a an excellent choice. It is the second quietest machine (next to the S9); mine is almost silent. It has a 3-yr warranty, no power brick, and if one doesn't want to buy the software, you can get the SmartCode from the LCD display and plug that into their web tool to see your data for free. The software will give you more details with graphs, but the Smart Codes do give you the pertinent nightly stats.

DeVilbiss also provides firmware upgrades to end users for free, and the software will also be upgraded as needed unless moving to a totally new version then one needs to buy that... i.e. when they went from 1.6 to 2.0 you had to buy, but the updates to 2.0 have been free when you log into the program.

I've had my IP since I started therapy so I have no other machine with which to compare it, but several others on the forum have used the IP and others and most seem to like it as well as their others, if not more so.

Good luck with your choice and continued good therapy!

[sol]

I will go with the S9 autoset it is very user friendly it has a lots of features on its LCD screen others machines don,t have which makes it first choice for first timers but in your case a seasoned cpap user those things does not matter or it might do ,you have a choice to make in the meantime check http://www.secondwindcpap.com for their prices on opened box cpap and you will be surprised .

[cflame1]

If ever you don't like the humidifier on the machine... consider a F&P HC 150. This is an external humidifier, and will attach to any machine.

[louie1961]

First off, thanks all for all your useful input. Let me add a few more variable to the mix. I have the software and the card reader for my M-series. I used it a lot in the beginning (5-6 years ago). I really don't use it any more. Haven't used it in at least 3-4 years. I don't think software is an important buying criteria for me.

I also am not sure I want so much fine control in a CPAP that the intillipap seems to offer. I don't really enjoy fiddling with the settings, and I don't think I really want to. Does the intellipap pick these settings for your and you can over ride them (which might be OK), or am I forced to pick all of these settings myself (which would be a con against this machine for me). I REALLY LIKE how automatic the M-series is.

I also REALLY LIKE C-flex. Is "Smartflex" close to "C-Flex" in comfort and effectiveness is relieving exhalation pressure? By the way the same questions apply to the S9

[pj2448]

All those fine adjustments I mentioned are defaulted from the factory to the following on the Intellipap: The apnea detection is at 10 seconds with 90% or more flow restriction and the Hypopnea detection is at 10 seconds for 50% or more reduction. These are the thresholds that trigger pressure increases. The default values are standard medical definition. You do nothing to use it at those levels. How nice though to be able to tweek them if you want/need to! You can go 0-20% and 6-150 seconds on apnea or 30-70% 6-150 seconds on Hypopnea. C-Flex is a trade name for Respironics' exhale relief feature. Exhale relief is exhale relief on any XPAP, though. The IP is 3 levels of exhale relief and there is also a rounding feature in addtion to fine tune it. I have left mine rounding to default and it seems to work for me.

[cflame1]

Exhale relief is exhale relief on any XPAP, though. The IP is 3 levels of exhale relief and there is also a rounding feature in addtion to fine tune it. I have left mine rounding to default and it seems to work for me.

No, exhale relief is not offered on any XPAP. Respironics, Resmed and Devilbis are the only one's with exhale relief. As it is, there's only specific models of even those brands with it.

[pj2448]

I understand not all PAPs offer exhale relief. I was saying C-Flex, EPR, and Smartflex (all trade/marketing slogans) are the same as the other "exhale relief is exhale relief" and one should not assume there is much of a difference to the user, accept for how, perhaps, the actual relilef is accomplished inside the machine by mechanical, software, or design principle which may have a patent attached to it.

[Georgio]

It's worth mentioning that each of the different machines you are considering operate with different algorithms and provide different therapy.

The Resperonics algorithm works great for me, the Intellipap algorithm provided me zero therapy, and I could not use it.

Each case will be different. I'm sure my next machine will be Resperonics....I know it's what works for me.

Good luck with your choice.

Georgio

[mcdover]

You should also consider the Fisher & Paykel Icon Auto. Very good machine with a built in humidifier. I've been using it since it's US release, and I would put it up against any other Auto on the market as far as therapy, plus it's got an alarm clock. One last thing needed on my bedside table.