Is there any cheaper oximetry solution for ResMed machines?

[bonum.noctem]

So there is the ResMed Air 10 Oximetry Module that can be found for $199, however a complete kit consisting of module + Xpod oximeter + sensor clip + cable + reusable soft sensor adds up to $949.

It would be great to be able to have SpO2 covered in SleepyHead reports, but obviously not at that price.

I guess there is no cheaper solution, except going for a separate oximeter like a Contec wrist watch?

Did anyone ever see the ResMed oximetry module or complete kit been offered second hand?

[Cpapian]

I believe the contec data can be imported into sleepyhead.

[Slartybartfast]

Several years ago I did just that with a CMS50e. Pulmonologist was speechless when I brought into him a week's worth of ResScan data with corresponding oxymetry graphs. He kept saying, "This is wonderful!"

But the oximeter display died and I stopped caring about my numbers because they were so consistently good.

I think the manufacturers are missing an opportunity by not providing an affordable oximeter interface. After all, oximetry is the data that proves the xPAP therapy is achieving its desired effect.

[Pugsy]

I don't know of anything other than the one that is really pricey that works with the ResMed machines...or the CMS ..Contec/whatever brands that will do it.

I have never seen a used ResMed oxygen module and device offered anywhere....but then I haven't looked either.
I know of maybe a couple forum members using the ResMed product...everyone else here goes with the much cheaper separate CMS type of device. Not very many people opt for the pricey option and then even fewer end up wanting to sell it.

[palerider]

I know of maybe a couple forum members using the ResMed product..

yay... more stuff to get tangled up in at night

[bonum.noctem]

I believe the contec data can be imported into sleepyhead.

Indeed, just seen that SleepyHead can import data from certain Contec devices, with the CMS50F (only 1 session storage) or CMS50I (15 sessions storage and additional PI recording) likely to be still the recommended choices.

Has anyone found a good deal on any of the two devices? Or have the two models been superseded in the meantime (I'm not sure how up-to-date the info on SleepyHead support is, at least one source dates back to 2014)?

[Pugsy]

Check Amazon and EBay for potential sources...the cheapest will likely be on EBay with the seller being in China and it taking a little longer to get it but sometimes Amazon sellers come real close to the China seller prices.
Amazon does international shipping...not sure of the cost but easily compared to price from China seller.

Unless you plan on using the pulse ox often for multiple nights the CMS 50 F model would most likely be sufficient.
I do believe both work well with SleepyHead but since I don't have one I really don't remember.
Send palerider a PM and ask him. I think he has experience with both and can tell you the pros and cons of either the F or I models.
The only one I ever used was the 50 DPlus model and then only a couple of times and I got bored with it. Sold it. I figured that I would get bored with it and that's why I went with the el cheapo model. I knew I wouldn't be using it often and it would most likely end up in the junk drawer and it did. Couple nights of boring reports meant no need to use it again in my mind.

[zackds]

I know of maybe a couple forum members using the ResMed product..

yay... more stuff to get tangled up in at night

lets just get on with singularity

[bonum.noctem]

Check Amazon and EBay for potential sources...the cheapest will likely be on EBay with the seller being in China and it taking a little longer to get it but sometimes Amazon sellers come real close to the China seller prices.Amazon does international shipping...not sure of the cost but easily compared to price from China seller. Unless you plan on using the pulse ox often for multiple nights the CMS 50 F model would most likely be sufficient.

Further research has shown that AliExpress is the place to look, it's $71 for a CMS50F versus $82.45 for a CMS50I (both with free shipping from China and the $4 New User Coupon from AliExpress). The usual downside is that shipping takes about a month and of course that it will be subject to customs clearance (which adds at least the import sales tax, which is considerable in all countries here in Europe).

The difference between the two devices according to the TNET Sleep Informational Site: Oximeter and Pulse Sensors page:

The CMS50F is limited to 1 session in memory. This means that once you start a recording session for the night you can not stop or the previous data will be over written. The "F" model only records pulse and SpO2 data

The CMS50I model allows for up to 15 sessions. If you stop a recording session during the night and then restart, a new session will be recorded. You can "stitch" the sessions together in Sleepyhead. Also, the "I" model records the perfusion index(PI) along with the "F's" normal pulse and the SpO2 levels.

Since the PI is pretty much irrelevant for home use ("Most people that use an oximeter at home would not need a perfusion index indicator because they are considered to be in general good health" according to the explanation here), the CMS50F surely would do, though with a price difference of only $11.45 it's not really a big deal.

I'm not sure if I would want to use an oximeter regularly. I have just taken a look at the report from my home screening, min. SpO2 was 87%. As mentioned in multiple sources, checking SpO2 is the ideal way to see if xPAP therapy is working as supposed to, but I felt the fingertip sensor was really annoying and even painful (I had to swap fingers during that home screening night).

[palerider]

As mentioned in multiple sources, checking SpO2 is the ideal way to see if xPAP therapy is working as supposed to

An excellent example of how "multiple sources" can be wrong.

SpO2 is not a good way to tell if CPAP is working, some people gave significant sleep disturbance without significant oxygen desaturations. If it were a "good way", then that's all sleep tests would need, instead of all the wires and cannulas and belts.

[Pugsy]

I have a friend with severe OSA...60 something events per hour but here oxygen levels never really dropped all that much during her in lab sleep study. Her baseline while awake was round 97% and during the night the lowest it went to was 93% and that's not much of a drop when its normal to drop 3 % when asleep and a person doesn't even have OSA.

So using oxygen desats isn't necessarily the golden rule for evaluating therapy effectiveness (nor OSA diagnosis) like some people might think.

[Slartybartfast]

Absent evidence of significant oxygen desaturation events, as in the instance you cited, I'd agree with you. However when someone is spending time down in the 60s for significant periods each night, I think at that point it's more important to focus one's efforts on getting the oxygen level up.

[bonum.noctem]

Well, after what I have read so far, I also thought that any kind of breathing disorder that is treated with xPAP results in lowered SpO2, so if an oximeter shows that there is no oxygen deficiency, it's likely a different kind of sleep disorder. With that not being the case, oximeter readings in addition to the xPAP SleepyHead reports still should give valuable information about the condition, and if there was oxygen deficiency before xPAP therapy but not after, it would be an indicator that xPAP treatment is working in that regard.

[Pugsy]

if there was oxygen deficiency before xPAP therapy but not after, it would be an indicator that xPAP treatment is working in that regard.

Correct...this is what happened to me...pre cpap and per the in lab sleep study my O2 went to 73% and I spent a lot of time below 88%.
I got myself the CMS 50 Dplus just for my own peace of mind...and my O2 levels were only dropping the normal 3 ish % that is normal to see when we sleep. Some drop is normal.

That's why I got bored with it...nothing to see...cpap fixed my problem.

The only problem with relying on a pulse ox is that people often don't understand that with sleep apnea people don't always have significant drops in oxygen levels. As long as people understand what it shows and the limitation that it can't always show everything..they are great to use.

There's more to SDB and sleep apnea than just oxygen levels and the pulse ox can only show oxygen levels. Can't show some of the other stuff that can cause us problems when it comes to SDB or sleep apnea.

[bonum.noctem]

There's more to SDB and sleep apnea than just oxygen levels and the pulse ox can only show oxygen levels. Can't show some of the other stuff that can cause us problems when it comes to SDB or sleep apnea.

That's why it makes most sense to combine the two for analyzing xPAP + SpO2 data in SleepyHead together.

Back on topic:

The original idea of using the ResMed Air 10 Oximetry Module is already buried due to overall costs.

Has anyone here any experience with other oximeters from Contec and importing their data to SleepyHead?

Someone from the other forum just bought a CMS50K and could not make it work with SleepyHead (though it's not clear what he has tried so far). The CMS50K is almost twice the price of a CMS50F, but it is a nice device that can be used for sports purposes as well.