ComfortLite Nasal Interface and APAP

Newsgrouper · Post by **Newsgrouper** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:23 pm

Does anyone use the ComfortLite Nasal Interface with an APAP machine? Respironics advises against doing so. Could someone tell me why they would say this? I'd also like to get some opinions about this interface.

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wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:56 pm

Respironics should advise against using this interface with any machine

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:07 pm

LOL!!! Good one, wader!

Newsgrouper, I think from what I've read here over the past few months, many people use interfaces (that contain that same caution) with autos without any difficulty.

You could do a search on this as it has been frequently discussed... Here's a pertinent post by r.g.

Autos with certain interfaces

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 10:02 pm

NS is correct.

Many people have used a number of different "narrow tube" interfaces with virtually all of the auto machines and have had good results.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 1:35 am

Respironics should advise against using this interface with any machine

OMG!! That was funny!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 7:43 am

Respironics should advise against using this interface with any machine

I've used the Comfort-Lite with several different auto machines. It can be a bit fussy, but I've liked it enough that I have purchased a second one after I wore the first one out. It is the only Respironics interface that I have purchased and I have been happy with it. For some reason, folk seem to love to bash this mask but, like ALL of the masks, every mask does not work for every person.

Respironics advises against doing so. Could someone tell me why they would say this?

I don't know why Respironics advises against using this mask with their auto machine; maybe they have not tested it with their auto and/or have some reason to believe that their auto will have some difficulty functioning with any narrow-tube mask. You might have noticed that Respironics sells their new Comfort-Curve interface with it's own narrow-tube air hose which goes from the mask all the way to the machine, by-passing the larger air hose that is normally used with the machine.

ResMed Swift (auto machine) has a function in it that allows the user to tell the machine which mask is being used. I think that this helps the machine to deliver proper treatment by making treatment adjustment relative to the specific mask. ResMed is not going to do any favours for other mask makers so, they only give instruction for mask selection regarding masks that they manufacture.

Puritan-Bennett has an integrated pressure sensor tube that measures pressure at the mask. PB's literature says that all of their masks are suitable for use with their auto (420E) machine. This leads me to believe that the Puritan-Bennett 420E knows what is going on at the mask and should be highly accurate. I feel comfortable using any narrow-tube interface with the 420E.

ResMed Spirit should also give good treatment if you are using a ResMed mask and have input this mask choice into the Spirit. Alternatively, if you are using a non-ResMed mask and can match it's narrow-tube configuration to a ResMed mask, and then input that mask choice, it should be OK.

Respironics says to NOT use their own narrow-tube mask (Comfort-Lite) with their RemStar auto. I suspect that there may be some issue with RemStar's ability to accurately sense what is happening at the mask or, to deliver accurate pressure because of the change between the narrow tube of the mask and the larger diameter of the main air hose. They have decided to market their new mask (Comfort-Curve) with an integrated narrow tube that goes from mask to machine. It would seem logical to me that this consistent diameter tube, from mask to machine, would allow for accuracy in sensing/delivering pressure.

I am not an engineer and have no hard data --I just find it suspicious that THEY say to not use Comfort-Lite and THEY are now selling a new interface that uses a narrow air tube from mask to machine, avoiding the change in tubing size between the interface and main air hose.

Having said all of this, I know that there are many, many users who connect their narrow-tube interface to their RemStar auto with no perceived problem what-so-ever; they seem satisfied with their treatment.

Many months ago when I was trialing the different machines, I used a narrow-tube Comfort-Lite with three different auto machines -->RemStar auto, PB 420E and ResMed Spirit. I wanted to see which machine would give me best treatment before I purchased and I felt that I should use the same mask with each machine so that the trial would be fair.

I reviewed the Spirit instructions and input the ResMed Swift mask choice into the Spirit. I did this because I surmised that the Swift narrow-tube and the Comfort-Lite narrow-tube were about the same length/diameter and, as such, the machine would deliver treatment that was appropriate. The result of this was that the Spirit gave great treatment.

The 420E also delivered great treatment and the data analysis from both 420E and Spirit showed similar pressures used. The Respironics RemStar auto left me feeling tired and, the pressures delivered were, overall, lower.

This left me thinking that the RemStar was not the best choice for me. This may have been because the algorithm in the RemStar auto was not right for me, or the RemStar auto was not able to sense what was going on because of the narrow-tube interface or, both.

Not-withstanding, there are lots of people happy as clams with their RemStar which is great. I guess that I am just overly-cautious -->I am aware that Respironics says that the narrow-tube Comfort-Lite is not suitable for their auto machine and I think that they are saying it for a reason.

ufo13 · Post by **ufo13** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 8:17 am

The above sure sounds like WILLSUCCEED ! guess he got GUESTED again!!!

stev, ufo13

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:57 am

You are right! It seems that when I type a long response something happens and I get booted from the system as Willsucceed and the message posts as Guest.

Maybe this is the system's way of telling me to have less to say...

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:05 am

Maybe this is the system's way of telling me to have less to say...

It it is, then - unlike you - the system doesn't know what it's talking about.

I always enjoy your posts - they are so informative, so well organized - so what if they're long?

O.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:05 am

Maybe this is the system's way of telling me to have less to say...

If it is, then - unlike you - the system doesn't know what it's talking about.

I always enjoy your posts - they are so informative, so well organized - so what if they're long?

O.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:15 am

Guest wrote:

ResMed Swift (auto machine) has a function in it that allows the user to tell the machine which mask is being used.

This SHOULD have been "ResMed Spirit (auto machine)...

Sorry for the confusion.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:26 pm

Great analysis, you old "Guest", you.

Like ozij, about halfway through the post I was thinking...this is WillSucceed!! The Guest goblin caught him again! LOL!

If only you had mentioned "C-Flex", I'd'a been sure.

Please don't ever shorten your informative posts, WillSucceed. Gee, if you did, I'd have to, too.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 5:49 pm

Rested Gal wrote:

Like ozij, about halfway through the post I was thinking...this is WillSucceed!!

RG, you crack me up! Thanks for encouraging me to type my brittle cracked fingers to the bone!

I did not mention C-FLEX because Newsgrouper (the original poster) did not ask about C-FLEX. I'm trying (although it is killing me) to not rant about C-FLEX on every occasion possible. This is my feeble effort to to offer balanced review/commentary.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:38 pm

I did not mention C-FLEX because Newsgrouper (the original poster) did not ask about C-FLEX. I'm trying (although it is killing me) to not rant about C-FLEX on every occasion possible.

*bonks forehead*...and there I went and opened the door for him!! rotfl!!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:16 am

It was actually UFO who caught the goblin first...

Spooky place, this forum, with UFOs and goblins, and masks and nightmares....

O.

ComfortLite Nasal Interface and APAP

ComfortLite Nasal Interface and APAP

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