ResMed S8 Vantage EPR

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WillSucceed
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ResMed S8 Vantage EPR

Post by WillSucceed » Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:35 pm

I called ResMed to see if they could give me some information regarding this new device but, as it is not yet launched, their answer was "nyet."

Specifically, I wanted to know:
1) Is the algorithm running this machine is the same as that which runs the Spirit?
2) Can the Expiratory Pressure Relief be disabled if the user finds it to be unhelpful?
3) Can the machine can be set to function in straight CPAP mode if desired?
4) Does the machine record/provide data for software analysis?

I suspect that the algorithm is the same and the only advantage of this new machine is that it is smaller/lighter than their Spirit and, has the Expiratory Pressure Relief feature -their answer to C-FLEX.

Anyway, if any of you have info regarding these questions, please post them!
Thanks

Buy a new hat, drink a good wine, treat yourself, and someone you love, to a new bauble, live while you are alive... you never know when the mid-town bus is going to have your name written across its front bumper!

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dsm
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Resmed Autoset Spirit (S8 model)

Post by dsm » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:01 pm

Resmed Autoset Spirit (S8 model)

This info is from the Australian ResMed site - it seems to have more models listed than the US one just at the moment.

http://www.resmed.com.au/

But there is no mention of their CFLEX feature you wrote of. From the customer & clinicians pages, there is very little useful info.

So thus far I see 3 models

S8 Lightweight
S8 Standard
S8 Autoset Spirit

I haven't contacted ResMed (my friend D at my sleep clinic basically told me it would be a waste of time) but I may email them here with the same questions you asked. Will post any responses back here.

DSM

UPDATE - this link is to a write up on the data that can be read from the S8 models...
http://resmed.com.au/Shared/StaticFiles ... nglish.pdf

UPDATE#2 - on further checking, the above data seems to be exactly what is available on the S7 Autoset Spirit
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Guest

Post by Guest » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:42 pm

DSM

Check the English International site there is a Auto Score model but so far no mention of a CFLEX feature on ther Auto that I could find. So the improvements that I can find on the S8 so far as compare to the old S7 series are smaller aize and the humidifier is warmer better control and you can fill it without taking any hose off since the top swing out.


john5757
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Post by john5757 » Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:49 pm

First CPAP.com was showing the new ResMed S8 auto coming soon yesterday and then today,the name changed to ResMed S8 Vantage Auto with EPR and now the web page for it will not come up. Something strange going on.


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cpapseller

Post by cpapseller » Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:01 pm

EPR can be turned off. Settings are 0 which is off, 1 a one centimeter decrease throughout the epap, 2 a two centimeter decrease throughout the epap, and 3 a three centimeter decrease throughout the epap.

Resmed will be shipping to dealers September 12. This date is fairly firm.


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Post by john5757 » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:56 pm

Gee that means that the new S8 Auto does have a new algorithm then


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rested gal
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Post by rested gal » Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:18 am

cpapseller (guest), when you say:
decrease throughout the epap
I wonder what the word "throughout" means. Does it mean that EPR will make the machine wait, using that slightly lower pressure indefinitely...until the user starts to inhale again?

If so, ResMed's EPR will be operating a leeetle more like the way a bi-level machine waits for the next breath, rather than the way Respironics C-Flex starts the pressure rise back up again while a person is still exhaling when the strength of the exhalation is waning at the end.

Or, will the S8 Auto with EPR decide when the exhalation is finished and move back to the higher pressure regardless of whether the user has started to draw in a breath? In which case it may feel essentially like C-Flex does.

The slight "bump" C-Flex delivers when it pushes in the higher pressure before some people are quite finished exhaling can be a bit disconcerting. Can even force a few to have the sensation of needing to play a game of catch-up breathing they can't win. Eh, WillSucceed?

It will be interesting to see if EPR handles the tail end of an exhalation more smoothly for some than C-Flex's "bump" does.

Will also be interesting to see if the maximum setting of an exact drop of 3 cm with EPR feels good at higher pressures. C-flex, with its vague pressure reduction seems to be more dependent on the force of a person's exhalation to make the drop. For me, C-Flex couldn't make a dent in straight pressures experimentally set for 16 and above. Apparently the strength of my exhalation was not forceful enough up there.

If EPR really can hold a 3 cm drop throughout an exhalation, ResMed's new S8 auto could be one sweet autopap.

cpapseller, EPR will be available in autopap mode, won't it? Not just when the S8 Auto machine is operated in cpap mode, I hope.

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WillSucceed
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Post by WillSucceed » Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:36 am

Rested Gal said:
The slight "bump" C-Flex delivers when it pushes in the higher pressure before some people are quite finished exhaling can be a bit disconcerting. Can even force a few to have the sensation of needing to play a game of catch-up breathing they can't win. Eh, WillSucceed?

It will be interesting to see if EPR handles the tail end of an exhalation more smoothly for some than C-Flex's "bump" does.
There's a nail hit squarely on the head. If ResMed's EPR functions differently than Respironic's C-FLEX, such that it waits for the user to start inhalation rather than delivering the 'bump,' I'm going to be happy as a clam and will consider giving this new machine a trial run.

Buy a new hat, drink a good wine, treat yourself, and someone you love, to a new bauble, live while you are alive... you never know when the mid-town bus is going to have your name written across its front bumper!

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sleepyintucson
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Post by sleepyintucson » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:29 am

I was about to buy the REMstar Auto C-Flex CPAP but now I'm wondering if I should wait for this. I am going on a month long trip and would be nice to have a much smaller machine. This will be my first machine and I want to make the right choice (thanks to everyone who answered my post about auto vs. non-auto).

On the other hand I really want to get started! September 12th is the release date but then another 3-5 days for shipping and who knows what the backlog of orders is like?

Any opinions?

Joel


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sleepyintucson
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Post by sleepyintucson » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:45 am

cpapseller wrote:
Resmed will be shipping to dealers September 12. This date is fairly firm.
CPAP.com says the date has now been put off indefinitely. I see no information about this machine on the Resmed website nor on cpap.com any more.

Bummer....

Joel


cpapseller

Post by cpapseller » Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:48 am

I confirm that the S8 Vantage (auto) and Elite will be shipping from Resmed to dealers in the USA September 12. This is what Resmed has said today.

My comments on EPR are also accurate. Throughout EPAP means from the beginning of exhalation to the end of exhalation the pressure is dropped by the EPR setting of 1 cm, 2 cm, or 3 cm . This is NOT C-flex.


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rested gal
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Post by rested gal » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:03 pm

Thanks, cpapseller. I understood that EPR is quite different from C-Flex in that ResMed's EPR feature has a definite, exact measurable reduction in cm's rather than the vague drop of Respironics C-Flex feature.

What I'm still unclear about...and I'll phrase the same question several different ways:

1. Does EPR maintain the expiratory pressure even after the exhalation is completely finished?

2. Does EPR wait until the person actually starts to inhale before the pressure moves back up?

3. If a person holds his/her breath for a second or two after the finish of an exhalation, will EPR wait until the instant the person starts to inhale before EPR "exits" from using the lower expiratory pressure and uses more pressure?

Last question - a different one - can EPR be used when the machine is in Autopap mode?

cpapseller, I loved your post about the origins of patients using software. And I like your clear posts about the S8 Auto to be released soon. The only reason I keep trying to pin ya down how EPR works is that you seem to really know what you're talking about and might have the answer to my questions.

Oh well, maybe we all just have to wait for "EPR reports" when people do actually start using the S8 Auto someday...by whatever name it ends up being called.

Thanks for your info.

cpapseller

Post by cpapseller » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:25 pm

1. Does EPR maintain the expiratory pressure even after the exhalation is completely finished?

Yes, it goes back to the cpap setting or auto adjusted setting upon the initialization of the inhalation.

2. Does EPR wait until the person actually starts to inhale before the pressure moves back up?

Yes.

3. If a person holds his/her breath for a second or two after the finish of an exhalation, will EPR wait until the instant the person starts to inhale before EPR "exits" from using the lower expiratory pressure and uses more pressure?

Yes.

Last question - a different one - can EPR be used when the machine is in Autopap mode?

I do not know for certain. It is standard in the Vantage. Documentation does not specify the answer to your question. Resmed says no, the machine must be in the cpap mode for the EPR to function.


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dsm
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ResMed replys

Post by dsm » Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:55 pm

Following answers came to me from ResMed Worldwide HQ in Sydney.
*******************************************************

I would be most grateful if someone could answer these particular questions
for me ...

1) Is the algorithm running this machine is the same as that which runs the
Spirit?

>>Same. It's the hardware only that is different.<<

2) Does the S8 offer a feature called Expiratory Pressure Relief ?

>>YES<<

3) If yes, can the Expiratory Pressure Relief be disabled if the user finds
it to be unhelpful?

>>YES, ERP is only available in CPAP mode and can be disabled if not required.<<

4) Can the S8 Autoset machine can be set to function in straight CPAP mode
if desired?

>>YES<<

5) Does the S8 Autoset machine record/provide data for software analysis?
(I have seen that the S8s can use a datacard that appears slightly larger
than a memstick, what information is put on the datacard & can I buy that software and the required reader to analyse the data)

>>YES, up to 180 sessions of usage, pressure, leak and events data as well as 5 nights of detailed data (Night Profile). The software and datacard already can be purchased from ResMed.<<

Cheers

DSM

UPDATE# corrected typo in ans to Q5 (typo was in the reply as sent)

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dsm
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Replies from RESMED

Post by dsm » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:52 pm

Taking this ResMed answer at face value ...

>>Same. It's the hardware only that is different.<<

I find myslef asking that if the S8 AUTO is the same as the Spirit. Then the Spirit must have the EPR feature but I have not heard of it before.

Does anyone with a Spirit (I have one but it hasn't reached me from US yet) see this feature ?

Willsucceed, where did you 1st hear about it ?

Is the answer perhaps missing the point that EPR is new to S8 AUTO or is the answer correct & EPR was added to the Spirit but not publicised ?

It certainly seems like a feature they would want to promote. I am interested to compare it to the RemStar I have as I was never happy with that C-FLEX reversal the way it operates in the RemStar.

DSM

xPAP and Quattro std mask (plus a pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap)