How many Remstar Auto's are there?

Snorenomore · Post by **Snorenomore** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:41 pm

Ok, I am a little confused. I was looking at the Remstar Auto and some sites talk about it with C-Flex and others don’t mention C-Flex but still mention the Remstar Auto has the Encore Smart card. Are they the same machine?

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:53 pm

Respironics recently added the C-flex feature to their Auto model. The Remstar Auto without C-flex is no longer being manufactured because on the the new model the C-flex feature can be turned off.

Snorenomore · Post by **Snorenomore** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:01 pm

Would I be correct in guessing then that the old unit without C-Flex still provides some sort of output similiar to what C-Flex does?

Snorenomore, who is happy to not have to sleep with an elbow in his back.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:07 pm

That would NOT be correct. The old Auto did not have any type of C-flex feature.

Snorenomore · Post by **Snorenomore** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:13 pm

I'm sorry, I don't understand. Then what is the purpose of the Smartcard?

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:26 pm

The smart card stores your data. So instead of hauling your CPAP/APAP over to your computer and plugging it in to download your data, you just take the smart card out, plug it into your computer's reader, and (as Emeril says) BAM, you got data.

Liam. Pork Fat may rule, but not when you're filling your heated humidifier.

Snorenomore · Post by **Snorenomore** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 1:03 am

But in order to use the card I would have to have the software to determine what the data is, correct?

Muck wrote

The Remstar Auto without C-flex is no longer being manufactured because on the the new model the C-flex feature can be turned off.

Now that they have added C-Flex, would the Pro w/C-Flex be considered the replacement for the Remstar Auto?

One other thing. Cpap.com has the The Remstar Pro C-Flex with humidifier at $613. The Remstar Pro 2 C-Flex with humidifier is $679. What is the difference between those two machines?

Snorenomore, enjoying sleep without his spouse saying those three special words, "you're snoring again."

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 2:19 am

Snorenomore, of the two machines you mentioned, if you click the little picture of each in the products shown on cpap.com, it will take you to a detailed description about them. Both have smart cards, but one only records hours of use. The other will record more information to look at.

The Respironics REMstar Pro with C-flex

Encore Pro SmartCard compatibility records compliance information. (That's only hours of use.)

The Respironics REMstar Pro 2 with C-flex

Data Storage Capacity (minimum) 6 months @ 3 usage sessions/day; 7-9 days in depth data analysis
Data Storage Content Date/time, duration at pressure, patient event histograms, short-term detailed events, long-term trends

Regardless of one (the Pro 2) giving more info than the Pro, they are both just straight cpaps with C-flex. Perhaps straight cpap with C-flex is what you want, but if it were me, I'd save up a little longer and get this one:

Respironics Remstar Auto with C-flex
Records 9 Months usage, Date/Time, Duration at pressure, snoring and apneic events information.

The data from that machine's smart card provides info about your overnight apneas, hypopneas, limited air flows, leaks, snores, pressures used, AHI - all shown through the Encore Pro software on charts and graphs.

That's the really detailed "in depth" info most people want to see if they are interested in looking at their overnight data. And that's the machine that can vary the pressure during the night, according to what the person needs, minute by minute. As icing on the cake, it can give you C-Flex relief on exhalation at the same time while operating as an autopap.

This auto is so versatile. You'd have both a straight cpap with C-flex AND an autopap with C-Flex in ONE machine. You could run it either way you wished. For that matter, you could run it without C-flex in either of those modes...straight cpap or auto. A lot more longterm bang for your buck, imho. It would definitely record all the "interesting stuff" on its smart card.

As you know, Encore Pro software is purchased separately if you want that too, or perhaps you could have the smart card read by someone else who has the software and have the data printed out for you.

Snorenomore · Post by **Snorenomore** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:55 am

Rested gal,
Thank you very much for your explanation.

Skipping the data collection differences for a minute, I was under the impression that C-Flex provides the same type of "auto adjusting" when you exhale as an APAP machine would. So what is the difference?

Their information on a CPAP C-Flex machine on cpap.com says -

However, the unique CFLEX technology from Respironics drops the pressure at exhalation, making it very comfortable to breathe

.

So you think the one to get then is the Remstar Auto C-Flex that cpap.com sells for $683. That is w/o a humidifier which I would need to purchase seperate.

Snorenomore,
Resting better without being poked to roll over.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:54 am

snorenomore wrote:I was under the impression that C-Flex provides the same type of "auto adjusting" when you exhale as an APAP machine would. So what is the difference?

An auto adjusting cpap continuously adjusts the pressure at which the machine is operating.

C-flex only drops the pressure slightly for the first part of the exhalation phase.

Example: A fixed pressure machine with C-flex set at 12cm would stay at 12cm but would provide some pressure relief on exhalation only, similar to how a bipap works. It would still operate at 12cm all night long though.

The Auto w/C-flex will adjust the pressure up or down as required during the night and provide extra relief on exhalation.

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 11:02 am

I have the auto with Cflex, and I can honestly say that it is a compliance dream. I personally do not think I would be up to 72hrs in the first week on a different machine. If you can afford the auto with cflex, do it. You won't regret it.

derek · Post by **derek** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:26 pm

Geez Mike,
I have had mine exactly one week today also and I only got 59 hours! I feel shamed by your performance. Average of 10.3 hours/night - wow!
I agree, as far as comfort is concerned, the RemSTAR Auto is a CPAPper's dream come true Just love that 6.5 cm with C-Flex as I nod off

derek

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 2:51 pm

Derek,

You have to factor in your Valentines get-away into your 59 hours. Maybe Mile was not so lucky.

I remember you two got your machines on the same day from the same place. I'm glad after one week you both love it as much as I do.

Here's to Respironics!

Snorenomore · Post by **Snorenomore** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:07 pm

This discussion of all the data these machines record brings me back to something Liam said in some other post (yes, I actually learned something from him! JK, Liam) and that is, all the things that some of these machines do could be really interesting the first day or two, not quite so interesting after a couple weeks, and totally forgotten after a month.

I love gadgets as much as the next person, but I find myself getting lost in all the functions of nearly every new gizmo I get including cell phones, clock radios, media recorders, computers, watches, etc. Before long I am back to the basic functions of nearly everything and when I want the gizmo to do something out of the ordinary, I have to
1.search for manual (which if not found quickly may stop any attempt to proceed),
2. reread the manual,
3. hopefully get the gizmo to do what I wanted without getting totally frustrated.

That being said, what is the cheapest APAP machine with a humidifier?

Snorenomore,
Sleeping better w/o the cattle prod urging me to roll over.

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:13 pm

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1540

Dont let the price of size fool you. This unit is packed with features. Buy the software. Its well worth it.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1541

Chris

Machine	Mask