Do S9 auto's wear out?

[mnPhil]

Hi,
My pressure I thought was very high over the last 3 years. My ResMed S9 autoset APAP needed to be bumped from 9 min 20 max to 14 min 20 max. My nightly average was 19.1 or 20. My AHI was all over the map from 7AHI to 20 AHI. I do use a full face mask called Quattro Pro. Sleepyhead shows I have no leaks.
I recently bought a Z1 travel APAP set at 11-20. My pressure stays at 11 it never goes up above 12. But my AHI went down to 1 or 2. I didn’t believe the night log tool. I verified my findings with a Oxy meter CMS 50E. With the Res Med s9 I am up and down from 95 down to 88 SPO2. With the Z1 its above 95 SPO2.
I wonder if my S9 is broken. I called ResMed they said call the vendor and wouldn’t talk about if it was broken or not. Its 4 years old. It’ll cost me $50.00 to return it.
I think it is out of warrantee.
Will the internet vendor do anything for me? Do these things just wear out? I just forked out $900 for the Z1. I do like it but it’s a little noisy. I did like the S9 being quiet. Maybe the S9 is just old technology?
Thanks in advance,
Phil

[Wulfman...]

Hi,
My pressure I thought was very high over the last 3 years. My ResMed S9 autoset APAP needed to be bumped from 9 min 20 max to 14 min 20 max. My nightly average was 19.1 or 20. My AHI was all over the map from 7AHI to 20 AHI. I do use a full face mask called Quattro Pro. Sleepyhead shows I have no leaks.
I recently bought a Z1 travel APAP set at 11-20. My pressure stays at 11 it never goes up above 12. But my AHI went down to 1 or 2. I didn’t believe the night log tool. I verified my findings with a Oxy meter CMS 50E. With the Res Med s9 I am up and down from 95 down to 88 SPO2. With the Z1 its above 95 SPO2.
I wonder if my S9 is broken. I called ResMed they said call the vendor and wouldn’t talk about if it was broken or not. Its 4 years old. It’ll cost me $50.00 to return it.
I think it is out of warrantee.
Will the internet vendor do anything for me? Do these things just wear out? I just forked out $900 for the Z1. I do like it but it’s a little noisy. I did like the S9 being quiet. Maybe the S9 is just old technology?
Thanks in advance,
Phil

You can check it yourself (for free) by using the method in the following link.
Or, you can either buy a gauge manometer from CPAP.COM for about $78.

viewtopic/t113072/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4 ... ter#p37259

I used that (free) method for a number of years to check some of mine and then broke down and bought a gauge manometer in 2011 to double check them.

I would suggest setting the machine to a straight pressure when checking it.......and maybe a number of different settings to verify several pressures. If it's set for a range, it may or may not self-adjust to a different pressure.
Most machines have a plus or minus of .5 to 1.0 centimeter of leeway on pressure accuracy.


Den

.

[mnPhil]

Hi,
Excellent idea. I love the pressure check with water.
I am going to check it this weekend.
Thanks again
God bless
Phil

[Goofproof]

They only wear out if they are man made and have parts, and are turned on. Jim

[palerider]

Or, you can either buy a gauge manometer from CPAP.COM for about $78.

Or, you can buy a digital manometer from ebay for under 30$.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Or take it to a local DME and sweet talk them into testing it for free (it just takes a few minutes). Nowadays tho, it's mostly big national chains with no local outlets. <sigh>

[Wulfman...]

Or take it to a local DME and sweet talk them into testing it for free (it just takes a few minutes). Nowadays tho, it's mostly big national chains with no local outlets. <sigh>

Many/most hospitals have Respiratory Therapists who could check it, too. If a person has any "connections" (contacts) to their local hospitals, that might be an option.

But, the bucket of water with a ruler method is still pretty accurate for occasional checking.


Den

.

[SewTired]

Or take it to a local DME and sweet talk them into testing it for free (it just takes a few minutes). Nowadays tho, it's mostly big national chains with no local outlets. <sigh>

That's assuming they know what a manometer is. Clearly, some get what you mean about testing the pressure and some don't. If they don't know what a manometer is, chances are, you need to talk to a tech or go somewhere else.

[Goofproof]

Or take it to a local DME and sweet talk them into testing it for free (it just takes a few minutes). Nowadays tho, it's mostly big national chains with no local outlets. <sigh>

That's assuming they know what a manometer is. Clearly, some get what you mean about testing the pressure and some don't. If they don't know what a manometer is, chances are, you need to talk to a tech or go somewhere else.

Or go to the library and have them let you see a dictionary, but it's easier to use google. Jim

[mnPhil]

Hi,
I wanted to report back. I always what to know what happens after I give advice. I turned the S9 to cpap mode. I set the pressure at 11 and 17.8. I put a 3 rubber bands around the hose and the ruler and did the water trick.
The S9 at cpap 11 was 4 and 1/3 inches.
The s9 at cpap 17.8 was 7 inches.
So I think the pressure is working.
I set the s9 back to apap 12 min 20 max and will check how it goes tonight. I did turn EPR to of I used to run it at 3.
So I don’t think I need to throw my old s9 machine.
I’m still not sure why my new little Z1 gives me better AHI numbers.
Thanks again for saving me some $$.
Phil

[Pugsy]

I’m still not sure why my new little Z1 gives me better AHI numbers.

Perhaps differences in the reporting criteria for the various apnea events?
Meaning maybe the Z1 has a stricter criteria compared to the ResMed event definitions.
Like maybe the % of reduction needed to meet criteria is not as much with the ResMed hence more events getting flagged by the ResMed because the range to earn a flag is larger.

[Holden4th]

Hi,
I wanted to report back. I always what to know what happens after I give advice. I turned the S9 to cpap mode. I set the pressure at 11 and 17.8. I put a 3 rubber bands around the hose and the ruler and did the water trick.
The S9 at cpap 11 was 4 and 1/3 inches.
The s9 at cpap 17.8 was 7 inches.
So I think the pressure is working.
I set the s9 back to apap 12 min 20 max and will check how it goes tonight. I did turn EPR to of I used to run it at 3.
So I don’t think I need to throw my old s9 machine.
I’m still not sure why my new little Z1 gives me better AHI numbers.
Thanks again for saving me some $$.
Phil

Another possibility is the algorithm that the Z1 works better for you than the Resmed algorithm. Horses for courses.

[mnPhil]

Hi,
With the z1 I start at 11 and go up to 12.5 pressure.
Last night I tried my s9. App pressure set at 12 min 20 max no edr. My ahi was 12.5 Horrible.
I have a cms50e. My o2 was dropping down to the low 90s.
The pressure shot up to 20. No leaks.

Do any apaps try to do burst air? Instead of a steady pressure increase. I like the z1 but it a little noisy and does not have water.
Thanks
Phil

[70sSanO]

I'm in the camp that thinks your S9 may have always had issues, especially since your AHI has been high from the beginning and you are running pressures so much higher. I highly question an AHI that changes from 1 to 2 to over 12 and up to 20 due to a machine change. I'm sure that Govt agencies that require OSA testing and monitoring as a criteria for employment would be all over it if it were just algorithms. I can you that I would have a tough time flying if the pilot had OSA and was running at 20AHI but was able to cheat the system by simply changing machines.

I do have an almost new older S8 I was using as a backup on vacation that gave me horrible numbers and I never felt very good in the morning after using it.

The big question is how do you feel?

You may want to test your S9 at 11 or 12 for a few hours to see if what happens. It may start to decrease as the machine warms up and parts that are close to being out of tolerance fail to maintain the pressure. After all, it is just a pump.

I recently got an S9 Autoset and, for me it is an improvement, over running straight CPAP. But I think straight CPAP machine will last longer than an APAP. My first CPAP machine was an S6 and that was going strong after 10 years. My S9 Elite is over 5 years old and has 14,000 hours. Even with lower pressures and a tighter range, I don't anticipate my Autoset will last as long.

John

[Pugsy]

Do any apaps try to do burst air? Instead of a steady pressure increase.

No...none of the auto adjusting machines will do a burst of air unless you are using one of the ASV types of machines.

My ahi was 12.5 Horrible.

What is that AHI made up of?
What is the Central/Clear Airway Index?
What is the Obstructive Apnea Index?
What is the Hyponea Index?

Finally...with the Z machine...same questions...what is the AHI made up of? Does it flag Centrals or does it just flag OAs and Hyponeas?