BIG UPDATE: NEW RESPIRONICS PR Series Auto CPAP Released!

[Patzee]

Guest: Dolts

Oh Guest, we don't have to be THAT hard on PR.

patzee

[Maple Leaf]

dolts

dolts - German for "I love this Board and all it's members"

[6PtStar]

dolts

dolts - German for "I love this Board and all it's members"

RIGHT!!!

Jerry

[Guest]

can someone post the soft copy of the manual please.

mckooi

[socalmonkey]

can someone post the soft copy of the manual please.

mckooi

Its not available yet. As soon as it's is, I will post a link. PR still has no info on it's website yet. I suspect that will happen this week.

[socalmonkey]

I JUST GOT THE FOLLOWING EMAIL FROM RESPIRONICS REGARDING THE SOFTWARE:

"It will work with 2.1. Encore Viewer will not work with this machine but there is something in the works, roughly 6 months. Encore Pro 2.1 is released now. Regards, Service"

[Kiralynx]

I JUST GOT THE FOLLOWING EMAIL FROM RESPIRONICS REGARDING THE SOFTWARE:

"It will work with 2.1. Encore Viewer will not work with this machine but there is something in the works, roughly 6 months. Encore Pro 2.1 is released now. Regards, Service"

SOCAL,

I was told, around six months ago, by a Respironics representative, that they were coming out with "Encore Pro Home Edition," so you might consider asking them about that....

Correction. It was on 29 January 2009 that I posted the comment,

"I was able to chat with the rep for a bit, and told him that I was sincerely disappointed in Encore Viewer because of the inability to save my data to my own machine. He said that the FDA required them to remove Encore Pro from the patient market, but that they would becoming out with something called Encore Pro Home Edition which is supposed to have a data base on it. (I checked with my RT today, and she confirmed that it's being discussed, so it may not be vaporware.)"

Note: I do save my data with a PDF Printer, but......!

[socalmonkey]

Yeah, but what I asked them specifically about, was a version that would work with the new machine:

"Can you varify that your new PRI Auto CPAP Machine (model DS550S) will only work with EncorePro 2.1? Is that correct? Will there be any feature version of Encore Viewer that will work with this new machine? And is EncorePro 2.1 a new version just released? Thank you."

And they replied:

"It will work with 2.1. Encore Viewer will not work with this machine but there is something in the works, roughly 6 months. Encore Pro 2.1 is released now. Regards, Service"

So that is the first answer I've been able to get out of them (and it took a week). However, on the phone this morning, I had a long conversation with a guy in the Encore department, and he had heard of no plans for a home version. Although he said if enough people ask for it, they will be listening.

However, I am not holding my breath. I am pursuing getting Pro 2.1. Then I can find out if I really am holding my breath or not.

[dsm]

Another interesting aspect of the reported data from the new machine (that should help those folk stumbling through what Variable Breathing might have meant on the previous Respironics models. VB is defined as 'erratic' breathing in the Respironics patent an on page 25 of the Auto patent tries to explain how erratic breathing was detected & calculated (My analysis is that the machine compares the 1st half of a breathing cycle with the second & tracks this as apattern looking for 'erratic' patterns - this is different from 'predictatble' patterns such as meant by 'periodic breathing' or PB.

The Variable Breathing title has gone & in its place is Periodic Breathing which is a better understood term.

Periodic Breathing is not the new Respironics name for Variable Breathing. Periodic Breathing and Variable Breathing are not one in the same according to Respironics.

The Auto-CPAP... relies on the ability to trend the steady rhythmic breath patterns associated with certain stages of sleep. When a patient is awake, in REM sleep, or in distress, breathing breathing tends to be more erratic, and the Auto-CPAP trending becomes unstable. It is, therefore, important to interrupt the Auto-CPAP if the patient's breathing becomes too variable...."

So above, Respironics tells us that Variable Breathing covers a variety of conditions, including wakefulness. Periodic Breathing may be included in that broad VB statistical metric.

Periodic breathing is defined as alternating periods of hyperventilation with waxing/waning tidal volume and periods of central hypopneas or apneas. There are many forms of periodic breathing, one of which is Cheyne-Stokes Respiration (CSR). CSR is characterized by a cyclic pattern of waxing and waning during periods of apnea, and deep, rapid breathing.

Periodic Breathing is not that somewhat ordinary wakefulness variability measured by VB. Similarly, Periodic Breathing is not rather ordinary REM associated variability also measured by the proprietary VB statistic.

But the new Respironics algorithm does: 1) employ Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) to differentiate an open-airway or central apnea, and 2) track and score the highly patterned waxing and waning of Periodic Breathing, to notify clinicians that yet other SDB issues besides ordinary OSA require attention.

What I am very surprised to read is that Respironics claims to be able to somehow differentiate and score Respiratory Effort Related Arousals (RERAS). They can somehow discern brain arousals from a flow signal?

SWS

Just came across your post. I also just saw that excerpt you posted in the VB thread & agree it is a very good explanation. What I was noting was that the new machine made no mention of VB but did introduce PB. I can follow the excerpts you posted describing the Respironics definitions of the sources of VB. Good points.

I was wondering about the claim re detecting & addressing RERAS. When someone asked how they do that I was keenly looking for someone to explain it

I guess you are too

I never saw any mention of FOT for the new machine & had written that off as a failed technique (as I thought you had to ?). I know we discussed it as it was trialled in the Resmed Autoset Spirit II machine that never got released & I recall our discussions on Weinmann no longer talking about FOT as part of their latest SOMNO Auto.

I am guessing that the use of FOT if applied is used in their algorithm to decide if the apnea is to be totally ignored or to be responded to with subsequent pressure raising.

Cheers

DSM

[6PtStar]

He said that the FDA required them to remove Encore Pro from the patient market

You know but I sure am getting tired of everything being blamed on the FDA. I can't figure out where all this is comming from or is it a ploy because the FDA is so big we can't figure out who to complain to!! Anyone know where the regulation is that says we can't have Encore Pro. What is it that is so bad for us to have. I learned how to push the buttons way before I learned that you could program your change into Encore Pro!!!

Jerry

[-SWS]

I never saw any mention of FOT for the new machine

Below is the marketing sheet from page 4 of this thread (kudos to socalmonkey). And to my surprise it clearly describes a pressure wave to differentiate centrals:






And regarding that incredible APAP detection of RERA(rousals) without an EEG channel (thanks to CpapRRT for quoting the Respironics manual below):

Per the user manual:

RERA is defined as an arousal from sleep that follows a 10 second or longer sequence of breaths that are characterized by increasing respiratory effort, but which does not meet criteria for an apnea or hypopnea. Snoring, though usually associated with this condition need not be present. The Rera algorithm monitors for a sequence of breaths that exhibit both a subtle reduction in airflow and progressive flow limitation. If this breath sequence is terminated by a sudden increase in airflow along with the absence of flow limitation, and the even does not meet conditions for an apnea or hypopnea, a RERA is indicated.

******

Does not specify whether or not it will change pressure to correct them.

[socalmonkey]

INTERESTING JOB OPENING FOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER AT PHILIPS RESPIRONICS
[This was posted July 21, 09]

Auto req ID 2439BR
Job Title Senior Software Engineer
Job Description DESCRIPTION: Senior Software Engineer in Diagnostic Products R&D
The incumbent of this position is responsible for developing new technologies for Philips Respironics’ products used for diagnosing sleep disorders. The incumbent is also responsible for providing support for those products that are currently released to market.

Outcomes: The successful candidate will:
• Participate in the successful design and delivery of Philips Respironics’ sleep diagnostic products including formal release to the user environment and assisting with ongoing technical support.
• Be responsible for the design, development, test, documentation and support of real-time embedded system software for sleep diagnostic products.
• Provide technical expertise in the system design of the products supported including software architecture, logic design, coding standards, and relationship to hardware components.
• Interact with Product/Software Assurance, Product Engineering, and Marketing to achieve project and product objectives for performance, usability, manufacturability, reliability, cost, quality, and time to market.
• Actively participate and present ideas, concepts, results, schedule estimates, and status updates during periodic project meetings, design reviews, and R&D reviews.
• Ensure outputs conform to Philips Respironics and industry requirements for structured software development.
Behaviors: The successful candidate will demonstrate:
• Full knowledge and understanding of the job. Apply knowledge and skills to produce quality work. Continue to add new knowledge for personal and organizational growth. Proactively share knowledge with others.
• Positive internal and external customer relations. Anticipate customers’ needs and take appropriate action to help them succeed. Listen to others’ opinions, accept and use suggestions for improvement. Contribute to the overall team effort. Participate in as well as lead cross-functional project teams. Participate on more than one project team concurrently.
• Sound decision-making logic. Able to think logically and practically when evaluating solutions. Use previous results as a method for learning and improving the quality of subsequent decisions. Continually question and confirm results and recognize when results are not in line with expectations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Growth: The successful candidate will:
• Continue to learn about all the products developed in Philips Respironics’ Sleep and Home Respiratory division.
• Become familiar with Philips Respironics’ change notice processes, including learning about SAP PDM and QM modules, change notice outline requirements, and quality system procedures.
• Remain accountable for their personal development to grow within their current role and prepare for future roles. Continue to advance software development proficiencies. Acquire and apply advanced technical judgment and decision making skills.

QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Software Engineering, required.

EXPERIENCE:
• Minimum of 6 years of progressive engineering experience in a software development environment, required.
• Strong working knowledge of structured design, embedded real-time systems and hardware / software interfacing, required.
• Demonstrated proficiency in C, C++, and assembly language, required.
• Experience with Linux software development environments, preferred.
• Experience with networking protocols such as TCP/IP, preferred.
• Experience with advanced microprocessors / microcontrollers, preferred.
• Experience with Intellectual Property searches and submissions, desirable.
• Direct experience with integrating/transitioning new product ideas into cost effective, high production yield, and easy to manufacture products, desirable.
• Knowledge of non-invasive sensors and sensing techniques, desirable.
• Understanding of FDA, MDD, & ISO Quality System Requirements (including safety and regulatory testing) and their application within a medical product development environment, desirable.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
This job is primarily sedentary, but does require occasional standing and walking in order to perform the essential functions of the job. Requires frequent lifting and carrying up to 10 lbs. and occasionally up to 50 lbs. Must have fine manipulation and grasping skills, as well as the ability to reach, twist, and bend on an occasional to frequent basis. Occasional travel up to 5%, required.

ABOUT THE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
Respironics, a worldwide leader of anticipating needs and providing valued solutions to the sleep and respiratory markets. The company’s focus is on home care, hospital, respiratory drug delivery and international markets providing programs that manage sleep disordered breathing, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, infant care, congestive heart failure and restrictive lung disorders. Globally positioned has manufacturing facilities in several domestic and international markets. For more information see http://www.respironics.com.

EOE/AA
Business Group (Division) Sleep and Home Respiratory Group
Location Pittsburgh, PA Area
Shift SALARIED
No. of Positions 1

[sleepypp]

Looks like a good job for you socalmonkey

I want the new machine. Me likes new things. I wonder how long till one hits craigslist?

[jdm2857]

What's the employee discount?

[6PtStar]

You didn't see the part where if you have SA you were not qualified, don't bother to apply!!!! You might be to sympathetic to the cause!!!

Jerry