when to upgrade machine?

[WillCunningham]

Howdy, I was wondering if anyone had any advice for determining when to upgrade your cpap machine? I am having some difficulty when I look at the various models and try to figure out if the newer versions have real improvements or just marketing hype. For example my BiPAP auto is now a few generations back from the PR System 1 unit but I can't tell if there really are any major updates.

The newer humidification systems are a great example. The PR system 1 and S9 H5i both talk a great game with the auto sensing of the humidity of the room, at the mask, and using heater hoses to deliver the correct humidification to the mask. I can't tell if it is a significant improvement in engineering or in the marketing department. Either way I kind of want one. I hate rain out and have been having some "moist mask" issues even with a snuggle hose cover. I don't think I really need a new system though, I just hate being out of touch with the new features. lol.

It is the same thing with the differences between the various apaps available. I am sure companies all have different algorithms and some must be better than others, but how on earth do you tell? I suppose most of the choice can be made by other criteria like the software support and quality, ect. One feature of the PR system 1 did catch my eye. The sales description mentioned TiControl which is interesting to me because I specifically switched from bipap mode to cpap mode because the machine wasn't synchronized well with my breathing. Not quite enough detail to tempt me to upgrade by itself but it did make me wonder a bit.

How do you guys decide when to upgrade your system? I can see finances playing a large role, but other than insurance schedules does anyone think the technology improves quickly enough to warrant upgrades for new features? Thanks!

[cowlypso]

I have the PR S1 auto, and the humidifier controls do not always prevent rainout within the mask. I had a few nights where I woke up with water dripping in my nose.

[rholmack]

I would think if a machine is working for you, I'd stay with it. You can purchase a heated hose to help out with rain out. I'm considering it myself. Here some examples at : https://www.cpap.com/cpap-hose/cpap-hos ... -coils.php

Hope this helps!

[archangle]

I would think if a machine is working for you, I'd stay with it. You can purchase a heated hose to help out with rain out. I'm considering it myself. Here some examples at : https://www.cpap.com/cpap-hose/cpap-hos ... -coils.php

Hope this helps!

None of those hoses will work with a Philips Respironics machine. There is no power connector on the humidifier to power the hose.

Rumor has it that there will be an upgrade to PRS1 machines to use heated hoses, but I haven't seen them for sale yet. I presume the hoses will NOT be compatible between manufacturers.

There's some sort of "Australian heated hose" that can be added to existing machines. I don't know the details.

I don't know if there are any standalone humidifiers that have heated hoses.

[archangle]

If the new machines record waveform data and the old ones don't that's a BIG difference in how well your care can be managed. Instead of just a dot on the graph, you can look at the actual breathing pattern and decide if it's a big deal, a small problem, or just the machine being picky.

[70sSanO]

I went nearly 10 years between machines. Fortunately I picked the right year to upgrade. The number 1 reason is for me data. After years of nothing, getting data is wonderful.

I am still tweaking and my numbers are not where they should be, if not for the centrals, I'd be in great shape.

My own personal piece of detail data is the length of each apnea. My goal is to get my OAs under 1.0 and preferably to .5 or less... BUT having all of them under 20 seconds. I'm getting closer, but for every inch up in pressure I have to wean my centrals back down.

All things being equal, such as not having to go to an ASV, it would be more and better data.

John

[Janknitz]

I have the PR S1 auto, and the humidifier controls do not always prevent rainout within the mask. I had a few nights where I woke up with water dripping in my nose.

Note that Cowlypso is using nasal pillows. Because of their design, there can be some rainout in nasal pillows regardless of how well the machine prevents rainout. That's because your nose is much warmer than even the heated and humidified air coming in through the nasal pillows and the condensation occurs right there at the nasal pillows. The true test of the MACHINE's ability to prevent rainout is to see if there's rainout in the HOSE.

My experience with the PR S1 is that it does an excellent job of preventing rainout--there's never so much as a drop of moisture in the hose. There is some condensation in the pillows themselves, but never in the hose.

[cflame1]

I would think if a machine is working for you, I'd stay with it. You can purchase a heated hose to help out with rain out. I'm considering it myself. Here some examples at : https://www.cpap.com/cpap-hose/cpap-hos ... -coils.php

Hope this helps!

None of those hoses will work with a Philips Respironics machine. There is no power connector on the humidifier to power the hose.

Rumor has it that there will be an upgrade to PRS1 machines to use heated hoses, but I haven't seen them for sale yet. I presume the hoses will NOT be compatible between manufacturers.

There's some sort of "Australian heated hose" that can be added to existing machines. I don't know the details.

I don't know if there are any standalone humidifiers that have heated hoses.

http://www.sleepzone.com.au/showitems.a ... PAP%20Tube

Try this one.

[harold1]

Thank for sharing this valuable information of course it will be use full to everybody and I suggest this to put in other forums as well.

[Bookbear]

Hiya, Will! I remember you from back when you first joined. I had my ResMed Vantage S8 for a bit over five years. It died and I replaced with the PR System One Auto. So far I like it. You are right about different companies having different algorithms... it's a crap shoot for the patient. You try one and if you are lucky, that algorithm works for you. I am finding that the Respironics algorithm works better for me than the ResMed one did. That might also be true is I had gone for a ResMed S9... the companies update their firmware, too. On the other paw, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you are getting good therapy and the machine is working, then it makes sense to save your $ and continue as is. You could try the Aussie heated hose to help with rainout. Good luck!