What would you recommend as the simplest to use, lightest weight autopap and heated humidifier?
Does "integrated" mean the humidifier is part of the cpap?
Why do some people prefer humidifiers that are separate from their cpap/autopaps? Seems more complicated.
We are short term missionary/humanitarian aid workers so its imortant that I have something lightweight and easy to travel with but I'd also like to know, if the answer to this "travel" issue would be different from what you would recommend if I was mostly at home recommending simplicity (ease of use) and good results. Thanks! Terry
Simplest lightest weight autopap
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My Puritan Bennett 420E came last night. It is amzingly small but I didn't get a humdifier for it. I figured for travel I could skip that a couple days.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): 420E, Puritan Bennett, Travel
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): 420E, Puritan Bennett, Travel
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WillSucceed
- Posts: 1031
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:52 am
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
Small, lightweight
I have the PB 420E with integrated heated humidifier. I have been impressed by this machine right from the get-go. I also have a Respironics RemStar and use the RemStar bag to carry the 420E when I travel. The 420E, humidifier, power cords, hose and masks (I usually take 2 masks) all fit in the RemStar bag with some room left over.
I recommend the 420E without reservation but, as always, encourage people looking to purchase a machine to trial as many of them as possible so as to get the machine that "fits" you the best.
I recommend the 420E without reservation but, as always, encourage people looking to purchase a machine to trial as many of them as possible so as to get the machine that "fits" you the best.
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
Loved my 420E autopap...traveled with it quite a bit. I used the separate Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (there was no integrated humidifier option at that time for the 420E.) I think it's six of one, half dozen of the other, as to whether it's more convenient to have an integrated humidifier or a separate one. While either way suits me for home or travel, I personally would give the nod to "separate".
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WillSucceed
- Posts: 1031
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:52 am
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
light weight autopap
Rested Gal wrote:
I'll bite, why separate?I personally would give the nod to "separate".
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
Fair question. ohhhhkayyyy...here goes....
I like the smaller footprint of a machine (without humidifier) sitting on whatever shelf I choose to put it on.
I like being able to set the separate humidifier on a different shelf (near the floor, or even on the floor) than my machine.
I like not worrying about splashing water on the autopap. Not that that happens often when I use a funnel to simply add more distilled water. I just add more without ever removing the humidifier chamber, whether it's my separate or my integrated humidifier.
I like that it's so easy to simply unplug the separate humidifier and detach its short hose coupling from the machine, if I want to carry either. Could carry the entire little separate humidifier to the kitchen without toting along the whole combined machine. (More below for why I don't take the water chamber off...not even from the separate F&P humidifier.)
In the case of the separate F&P, I didn't bother to take the chamber off the base if I wanted to dump the water or fill the container with cleaning solution. I could carry the humidifier itself to the kitchen to fill the container with vinegar/water/whatever for soaking, without having to work an integrated container loose from the connection spot to the autopap.
With "separate", there's no wear and tear to the connecting gasket between machine/humidifier which could happen after repeated removals of the integrated water container. Simply remove the short connector hose from the top of the separate humidifier's water chamber. A hard plastic adapter saves wear and tear even on that short hose.
Getting a water container on and off its base can be aggravating with all the pushing/pulling/wedging going on. I'm just not going to bother with wrestling at removing a water chamber from a base - with either the integrated or separate one.
With the 420E, I was carrying the autopap and its power cord to my computer desk for downloads. I don't have a laptop to carry to the machine. So, for me it's more convenient to be carrying just that, without the added bulk of an integrated humidifier underneath and out in front of the machine. Would have been risky toting it all without sloshing water...and (see above) I wouldn't want the hassle of getting the machine loose from an integrated humidifier in the morning to go do the Silverlining download.
But most of all:
I like the easy, convenient position of the controls of the separate F&P HC150 heated humidifier- the on/off switch and the heat adjustment knob are on the front .
I could reach down in the dark, fumble for the heat adjustment knob and turn it up or down easily.
Quite unlike the rigamarole one has to go through to make just a one notch adjustment to the heat with, say, my REMstar auto's integrated heated humidifier. With that one, I have to turn on a light, get up, put on glasses, hold down a button on top of the autopap machine itself until the humidification setting shows up on the display screen...fiddle with another button to move the heat setting.
If I go past the number I want, cycle through the numbers again....squinting with sleepy eyes (even with glasses)... being careful not to shift mask out of place...having to move machine out some so that I can even see the display at all (if machine is on a middle shelf)... yadda yadda. Not the most user friendly way to do something as basic as turn the heat down one notch! LOL.
Luckily, with the Aussie heated hose, I rarely have to adjust the heat at all any more. But, I well remember the routine before I got the heated hose.
As for packing for travel, the flatness of an integrated humidifier might be a tiny bit better, but I had no problem fitting a small machine "here" and the smallish F&P HC150 humidifier "there" in the bag or suitcase.
ALL that said, either way works ok for me - integrated or separate.
There ya go, WillSucceed. Are you sorry you "bit"?
I like the smaller footprint of a machine (without humidifier) sitting on whatever shelf I choose to put it on.
I like being able to set the separate humidifier on a different shelf (near the floor, or even on the floor) than my machine.
I like not worrying about splashing water on the autopap. Not that that happens often when I use a funnel to simply add more distilled water. I just add more without ever removing the humidifier chamber, whether it's my separate or my integrated humidifier.
I like that it's so easy to simply unplug the separate humidifier and detach its short hose coupling from the machine, if I want to carry either. Could carry the entire little separate humidifier to the kitchen without toting along the whole combined machine. (More below for why I don't take the water chamber off...not even from the separate F&P humidifier.)
In the case of the separate F&P, I didn't bother to take the chamber off the base if I wanted to dump the water or fill the container with cleaning solution. I could carry the humidifier itself to the kitchen to fill the container with vinegar/water/whatever for soaking, without having to work an integrated container loose from the connection spot to the autopap.
With "separate", there's no wear and tear to the connecting gasket between machine/humidifier which could happen after repeated removals of the integrated water container. Simply remove the short connector hose from the top of the separate humidifier's water chamber. A hard plastic adapter saves wear and tear even on that short hose.
Getting a water container on and off its base can be aggravating with all the pushing/pulling/wedging going on. I'm just not going to bother with wrestling at removing a water chamber from a base - with either the integrated or separate one.
With the 420E, I was carrying the autopap and its power cord to my computer desk for downloads. I don't have a laptop to carry to the machine. So, for me it's more convenient to be carrying just that, without the added bulk of an integrated humidifier underneath and out in front of the machine. Would have been risky toting it all without sloshing water...and (see above) I wouldn't want the hassle of getting the machine loose from an integrated humidifier in the morning to go do the Silverlining download.
But most of all:
I like the easy, convenient position of the controls of the separate F&P HC150 heated humidifier- the on/off switch and the heat adjustment knob are on the front .
I could reach down in the dark, fumble for the heat adjustment knob and turn it up or down easily.
Quite unlike the rigamarole one has to go through to make just a one notch adjustment to the heat with, say, my REMstar auto's integrated heated humidifier. With that one, I have to turn on a light, get up, put on glasses, hold down a button on top of the autopap machine itself until the humidification setting shows up on the display screen...fiddle with another button to move the heat setting.
If I go past the number I want, cycle through the numbers again....squinting with sleepy eyes (even with glasses)... being careful not to shift mask out of place...having to move machine out some so that I can even see the display at all (if machine is on a middle shelf)... yadda yadda. Not the most user friendly way to do something as basic as turn the heat down one notch! LOL.
Luckily, with the Aussie heated hose, I rarely have to adjust the heat at all any more. But, I well remember the routine before I got the heated hose.
As for packing for travel, the flatness of an integrated humidifier might be a tiny bit better, but I had no problem fitting a small machine "here" and the smallish F&P HC150 humidifier "there" in the bag or suitcase.
ALL that said, either way works ok for me - integrated or separate.
There ya go, WillSucceed. Are you sorry you "bit"?
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WillSucceed
- Posts: 1031
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:52 am
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
I'll bite
Rested Gal wrote:
LOL
Thanks for the explanation!
My tongue is bleeding as we speak...There ya go, WillSucceed. Are you sorry you "bit"?
LOL
Thanks for the explanation!
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Janelle
I traded my FP humidifier for the PB one when it came out. The 420 sits on top of the humidifier. It is not snapped on or anything. So it is easily taken and trotted off to the computer for downloads. The only thing that attaches it to the humidifier is a short rubber tube, smaller on one end than the other. Or you can use a short hose which I am doing now because I left the original one on the 420 when I took it back for repair to the DME and it disappeared. I'm waiting for CPAP.com to get some in. The overall footprint of the 420 with the humidifier is about 5 x 9 (I'm guessing). Not very big at all. And the weight is not bad either. It does have a separate cord. Wish they would come up with a way for it to plug in to the xPAP unit instead, kind of like my digital camera dock, but maybe in the future.
I travel a lot with mine and also use it at home. Very easy to load it all up,pop in the hose and mask and still have plenty of room for things like a book, DVD player, wallet and plane itinerary and tickets. I even get in a small therapeudic pillow. Lots of people leave the humidifier "attached" to the CPAP unit when they put it in the bag. I haven't done that yet. Been putting each on separate sides of the one compartment of the bag that comes with it. And the bag fits easily under the plane seat so you can use it for a footrest.
I travel a lot with mine and also use it at home. Very easy to load it all up,pop in the hose and mask and still have plenty of room for things like a book, DVD player, wallet and plane itinerary and tickets. I even get in a small therapeudic pillow. Lots of people leave the humidifier "attached" to the CPAP unit when they put it in the bag. I haven't done that yet. Been putting each on separate sides of the one compartment of the bag that comes with it. And the bag fits easily under the plane seat so you can use it for a footrest.
8 posts
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