Automated CPAP cleaner

[nischala]

HI,
I am a part of the project for a CPAP cleaner. Can I please hear from you guys if you would be interested in a automated CPAP cleaner which may not be covered by the insurance? If it is not covered by the insurance how much would you be willing to pay for the same?

Thanks in advance!


PS: I cannot reveal more details on the product, Sorry!

[Ineedanap]

Im assuming it would clean my mask and hoses. I personally wouldn't pay much. Its not that hard to clean them.

[nischala]

Yes it would sanitize the hose and mask which in fact will prevent the infections.

[LSAT]

Yes it would sanitize the hose and mask which in fact will prevent the infections.

What infections? I have not seen very many posts indicating infections from CPAP.

[nanwilson]

I agree with LSAT...what infections????? I have not even had a full blown cold or sinus problems since starting therapy Apr/2010.

[xenablue]

So..... what parts of XPAP equipment will this gadget clean? The machine? The humidifier? The mask? The tubing?

I'd pay $20 for a gadget that does this - it takes me about 15 minutes to clean and sanitise everything so that's my limit.

Cheers,
xena

[BlackSpinner]

You would charge for vinegar and warm water?

However knowing a friend stopped using his because he considered cleaning his mask to be tooooo much of a chore, I do think you could have a market, especially if you could make it look like high end electronics and appeal to the iPhone crowd.

[jazzer4]

I myself wouldn't be interested as it only take me a couple of minutes to clean the mask in the morning
and about 15 minutes on Sunday to clean everything really good.

[chunkyfrog]

Cleaning is a snap.
Hose drying is a pain.
Make a little blower that hangs on the wall
and quietly pushes warm air through the hose for a half hour or so--for under $30;
or forget it.

[Elle]

Would this be like an autoclave that sterilizes medical equipment?

For drying the hoses I leave my machine running for a few minutes in the morning to dry it out. (off topic....I wonder if my leaving the machine run affects my "use" data?)

[Pugsy]

off topic....I wonder if my leaving the machine run affects my "use" data?)

No, will not affect use data. It will however count in the total hours of the machine being on blowing air (total blower hours) but not therapy hours which is where the data is scored.
Therapy hours can be reset to zero should someone say get a used machine and want the previous owners data erased so as to not mess with new person's data.
Total blower hours can't be reset though.

[JeffL]

I myself wouldn't be interested as it only take me a couple of minutes to clean the mask in the morning
and about 15 minutes on Sunday to clean everything really good.

That's the same cleaning schedule as mine Except I use the FX nasal pillows, and it only takes me 10 seconds to soap them up, rinse and repeat... I timed it

The hose blow drier idea sounds interesting. I clean the hoses first thing Sunday morning, but still sometimes get some drops blow up my nose Sunday night. It's not enough of a nuisance to even consider paying more than the price of a low end hair dryer.

[Elle]

I myself wouldn't be interested as it only take me a couple of minutes to clean the mask in the morning
and about 15 minutes on Sunday to clean everything really good.

That's the same cleaning schedule as mine Except I use the FX nasal pillows, and it only takes me 10 seconds to soap them up, rinse and repeat... I timed it

The hose blow drier idea sounds interesting. I clean the hoses first thing Sunday morning, but still sometimes get some drops blow up my nose Sunday night. It's not enough of a nuisance to even consider paying more than the price of a low end hair dryer.

Can't the cpap machine work as a blow dryer?

[chunkyfrog]

My thought would be a low-end hair dryer; modified to only run on very low heat and very low airflow--with an adjustable timer.
Make it so it hangs on the wall high enough to keep the open end of the hose away from the house pets.
Maybe sell a 'Y' connector so couples can use the same dryer.

[Pugsy]

Can't the cpap machine work as a blow dryer?

Yes. In fact I think the ResMed machines do that...sort of a cool down period after mask is off. I know the S8 machines used to do it. Continue to run for a period of time (don't remember how long but 30 minutes comes to mind) specifically to dry things out. People used to question all the time why their S8 machines would continue to blow after they had turned it off...thought there was something wrong with it so some even would pull the plug.
I haven't seen this mentioned about the S9 machines though. Perhaps people understand it better or heck, maybe it doesn't do it any more. Perhaps a S9 machine user could confirm this feature.

One could also wash the hose and put it on the machine and let it blow for an hour or so to dry it out.
Even after doing a "lasso" maneuver to expel excess water in the morning, seems like the hoses just aren't completely free of water at bedtime. Knowing how I am...I would turn the machine on and forget it. Not that it would really hurt anything but a waste of electricity and machine blower for me.
For those who like to wash their hose weekly or whatever...I think having an extra to swap out would be the simplest thing. Climate line users...well up to them how they would want to handle it. Cost could impact things there.

Me..I rarely wash the long hose so it is a non issue for me.