Respironics Comfort Curve Product Information and Interview

Post by **forumadmin** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:00 pm

Howdy,

The interview and the product are on time! I hope it's the start of a trend!

viewArticle/Respironics-Comfort-Curve-C ... rview.html

In this interview, Respironics speaks directly to many reoccuring frustrations expressed on this board. The need for a tight seal with minimal contact and weight. Colors. Extensive patient base testing. And a little laugh to top it off.

I hope you enjoy. Early adopters are welcome to submit user reviews!

Here's the cpap.com Comfort Curve Product Page:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1842

Johnny

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:54 am

Johhny,

Thanks for securing that interview. If you can, give us a feel in a few weeks how the comfortcurve release compares to the response of the aura release. I'd love to try the CC but I have my suspicions it's stability and just how that nasal seal works. The "Premium" price tag doesn't help encourage becoming a lab rat on this one either. My twin boys (soon to be 5) would rather see me spend the money on a couple of gameboys (keep that a secret). I think they also need to loosen their ties a little bit when selecting the color schemes for the snap-on covers ...no Dead-Head psychedelic tie-die? ...no Red White & Blue? ...no Glow-in-the-Dark Lime Green? They aren't selling office furniture.

I can't wait to see how it goes!

JRM · Post by **JRM** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 10:23 am

Great info.

It appears that this interface will not work with the 420E. It only works with a special hose that they provide, so there is no small diameter pressure tubing line for the flow sensor.

Also, the fact that they had to develop a special light weight hose to improve stability doesn't seem too promising. . .

I don't want to sound negative, because I was really looking forward to trying this mask.

-John

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 12:15 pm

The special hose is just the pigtails on the interface (I assume). I think it will still connect to your regular hose.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 7:10 pm

I would like to know for sure if this unit uses it's own stand alone special hose all the way to the machine. If so, I think this one will be dead in the water with many on the forums... that is unless that new lightweight hose is heated.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 3:17 pm

It's dead in the water for me, Wader.

I decided to go straight to the horse's...ummm.. mouth? lol

I called support at Respironics (800 345-6443) and duly pressed "4" for "If you use a Respironics product in your home."

Didn't have to wait long at all. Very nice phone service. Very nice girl answered after a brief wait.

I asked the girl if any standard cpap main air hose can be used with the Comfort Curve. She said no.

She told me it comes with its own main air hose. She explained that the included main hose has to be used because of the way the main air hose connects to the two smaller hoses that go on up to the mask itself. The connection between the smaller diameter hoses and the included main air hose is an elbow thingy (my word, not hers...heh). The main air hose becomes a bit more narrow there in order to clip into the connection.

I asked her if it's possible to connect to a standard main air hose instead of using the air hose that comes with the mask. She said no. She explained again that the way the end of the main air hose is designed to fit into the hard plastic connection to the two smaller hoses is the reason the included main air hose has to be used.

Wheee...ooooh. Way to go, Respironics....NOT!!

I haven't had it in my hands or seen it. Nor will this heated hose user ever be buying it. Wonder what they could have possibly been thinking to not design a connection that would allow it to be attached to any standard air hose? If torque problems necessitated a lighter main air hose, sounds like the mask design itself is a too-easy-to-twist out of place problem.

Maybe some lab rats will come up with a fix for that connection. The lab rat won't be me.

MartiniLover · Post by **MartiniLover** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 4:40 pm

It stands to reason that the hose is going to have to connect to a machine, that has a standard size fitting. Although the new mask may have it's own hose, I can NOT believe that it will not connect to another hose, (heated or not) I think you are all worrying about nothing.

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:56 pm

The ComfortCurve has its own 6' hose that is lighter and more flexible than a standard cpap hose. It makes it easier to use, and not as heavy when turning from side to side.

Respironics has put a lot of time in making this a great interface. I am going to stay open minded. I too use a heated hose, but that isn't going to stop me from seeking the best possible mask. I wouldn't think it is a big deal to use Respironics hose. I kinda like the idea of a lighter more flexible hose.

Ted

limpy · Post by **limpy** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 9:03 pm

As a rule people are very critical when new, better ways of doing things are first offered up. I'm with the Martini Man and Snoring Blue..Thing-rator on this.

I'm not saying this product is the be all end all of masks. However, it's a new design that seems like a very good idea. Respironics seems to have really listened to users this time around and I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Remember, this is the company that released C-Flex in the face of the "evil DMEs" wanting cheap machines!

RG, I understand you have reservations but man, why so harsh? It's a tube - and a lighter one!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 9:09 pm

heheh, well, my heated hose is not heavy at all, hung overhead.

Martini, you're correct that one end of the 6 foot hose that is part of the whole Comfort Curve interface does connect as usual to the machine or to the humidifier.

It's the other end..the mask end of the 6 foot hose that is different...according to support at Respironics. The connection between the two hanging down tubes and the main 6 foot air hose is what makes no other 6 foot hose possible to use with the Comfort Curve.

If a person doesn't want to use the Aussie heated hose and doesn't have a 420E autopap, the fact that you can't use your present hose with the Comfort Curve doesn't matter.

But if you have a 420E autopap you won't be able to connect the Comfort Curve to your 420E's hose with the special sensor line inside it.

If you have a heated hose (with or without a sensor line inside it) you won't be able to connect the Comfort Curve to that either.

Losing those few customers won't make a dent in Comfort Curve sales, of couse. Besides, who looks at the mask/hose connection? Look at the pretty colors!

I'll keep an open mind too. I'm always looking for masks that work well for me. And a hose that controls rainout. Luckily, I've already found both. Neither one had "Comfort" in its name.

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 9:44 pm

Doesn't the RemStar Auto also have a sensor line in the hose like the 420E? Why would they design a hose that couldn't be used with one of their own machines? He did state it could be used with all Respironics machines/

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 9:59 pm

Janelle wrote:Doesn't the RemStar Auto also have a sensor line in the hose like the 420E? Why would they design a hose that couldn't be used with one of their own machines? He did state it could be used with all Respironics machines/

The REMstar auto does not have a small pressure sensing inner hose.

I agree that the new lightweight hose is a great idea, but any new feature the requires me to loose a valuable feature I already use is not a great idea. It would be like them coming out with a new interface that did not work with C-flex. If they really wanted to sweep the market, they would have created a new lightweight HEATED hose. WOW would that be a winner...Respironics are you listening?

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 10:03 pm

The PB 420E is the only autopap I'm aware of that uses an extra sensor line running inside the main 6 foot air hose.

The Respironics autopap hasn't ever used a separate sensor hose within the main hose, as far as I know.

I wouldn't expect any manufacturer to care one way or the other whether one of their masks would be unusable with a competitor's machine. Just cuts a very small portion of the market out for the sale of a particular mask that requires a proprietary hose. Respironics probably anticipates more than enough sales to not be worried about missing a few.

If I had to guess, I'd bet there are more Respironics Autopaps being used than any other brands of autopaps. Most people are on straight cpap, anyway, in which case even the PB cpaps don't use a sensor line.

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 10:18 pm

But the RemStar has the same little "port" for lack of a better word, right next to the hose outlet just like what the sensor tube on the 420e fits to. So what is that for?

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 11:29 pm

You have sharper eyes than I do, Janelle! I'd never noticed that little recessed port inside the keyhole shaped area that has the hose outlet. I had to get down on my knees with a flashlight to see in there. My machine's on a lower shelf of the nightstand.

I doubt it's ever been for a sensor line during normal operation.

Maybe something for a repair tech to access to check something with a... thingy? Maybe something plugs in there during supplemental oxygen therapy? Maybe something for kids to stick a toothpick into after they get tired of pushing buttons? Maybe a tiny hidden camera to see if anyone uses a competitor's mask?

I have no idea what that's for, and I don't see it described in the user's manual or home health care provider's set up manual. It's got to have a purpose. What could it be? Now you've got me wondering!