Next Generation of Machine Deisgn: PR S2's and Resmed S10's

[chunkyfrog]

Home machines vs travel machines--I like the Steampunk/Borg/Enterprise bridge design for at home,
Maybe somewhat minimalistic for travel--couldn't a machine be integral with its impact-resistant, waterproof carrying case?
Airtight hatches pop open to allow air flow, access to power cord, mask and hose.
The entire apparatus could be left assembled and ready to use, except to plug in, put on, and hit "power".

[allen476]

Allen consider the Brick Wall surge protectors that work on a different principle and do not self-destruct. That's what I use with my CPAP. Not a commercial, just a satisfied user.

http://www.brickwall.com/

While they might be something to consider, there are a couple of things that stand out.

The price- At $235 for the simple plug in one, you can spend maybe $100 more and have a nice whole house solution. I'm not saying that it isn't practical, just more than could be justified for a cpap unit.

Lack of information- Their website doesn't list some of the information that you can compare protection levels against other manufacturers. Also when a company touts only one aspect of its product, it can be a warning against design weaknesses.

Again, I would suggest that good surge protection be done at the panel not the device.

Also in the context of wanting "Good" surge protection built in, it isn't feasible. Even if they were to incorporate the design of the Brickwall protection, you still have the problem of cost and weight. Each one adds to it.

If you live in a surge prone area, then the cost would be justified.

[allen476]

I like the Steampunk/Borg/Enterprise bridge design for at home,

I can see it now.......The humidifier knob is right next to the Photon torpedo button. Chunky thinks she is turning the humidity up but instead wipes out three houses and a school.

[chunkyfrog]

No, just the church with the obnoxious loudspeaker running 24/7

[allen476]

Many people have injuries, infirmities and disabilities that result in them sleeping in several locations at home on the same day - bed, recliner, guest room or couch. Others travel with both machines and humidifiers. The market would benefit from a machine that would operate WITHIN a gym-style bag. Gym Bags, or Team Bags, can be quite handsome and are recognized worldwide. Think of the design hoopla regarding women's hand bags, fine shoulder bags, men's attache cases. They do not look like medical equipment. Gym Bags have a flat bottom to rest on a table and represent a good beginning for developing a functional design for this segment of users. Resmed bag designers would find this right up their alley. Respironics would need to engage a more sophisticated design firm.

A very small segment of the population. If you believe there is a market for it, then design, make and sell your idea. It isn't up to the manufacturers to do it for you. Don't believe me, then look at companies that offer add on or specialty cpap items. Each one filling a void.

A practical idea would be to use a one liter water bottle for the humidifier tank. Plug it in, pop up the bottle vertically and put on the mask. Done.

- The humidifier should be a tiny component supplied by a good-sized, standard water bottle such as a liter bottle. When the bottle is lifted vertically it flows into the tiny humidifier compartment.
- The water bottle must be removable easily for refilling.

Again not practical. If you don't believe me, I can tell you how to do an experiment in the kitchen on your stove that proves it.

Please remember that Industrial Design is a sophisticated art these days so the technical issues that some of you have addressed represent 'easy workarounds'. Breathability, air source, heat, materials for humidification, etc are all the arena of good designers and by no means a difficult task.

It can be very difficult to near impossible for FDA approval.

For my company's products we still use the tried-and-true method of good drawings, mockups and multiple prototypes. In the case of xPAP machines the cost of production does not determine price. The gravy-train of the medical market is the determining factor in machine cost. Production costs for a machine in a bag is not a greater expense and in many ways would be of lesser expense.

Do you know what the determining cost of a new medicine is? How much R&D money was spent on getting it to market. It is the same for XPAP's. They need to make _____ amount of money on each unit just to break even. When you decrease the market size, you have to increase the price. Your proposal is targeted at a small market. Not enough demand to justify spending millions on development and FDA approval (which that alone is expensive) on a product.

[NateS]

I have edited and incorporated the reasonable suggestions that many of you have made into the original posting. I hope you have an opportunity to re-read it. I also included a few interesting stories.

I realize this machine package may not be suitable for all; however, many would find it invaluable.

I'm confident that you were well-intentioned, but I respectfully suggest that it is poor netiquette and extremely confusing to make changes to an original post after numerous comments have been posted in response to it! People now trying to read this entire thread from the beginning for the first time may well wonder what some or many of the critical responses were about. You may have even unfairly made some originally reasonable criticisms now appear to be unduly harsh or idiotic or bizarre, which is IMHO unfair to the authors of those responses.

Once a post has been followed by comments, it should be left in its original condition, except for perhaps correcting a spelling or grammatical error.

It would have been far preferable to simply post your revised version as an entirely new post, perhaps emphasizing your changes or additions in some way with bold or italics or underlining. You might even have added parenthetical credits thanking those by name who contributed suggestions you incorporated. Then you could have simply added a note to the originating post saying simply something like: "See revised version below.

I apologize for being critical, but IMHO by re-writing the original post and making the first posted version of it completely disappear, you have introduced great confusion and diminished the value of the entire conversation in this thread.

Sorry to have to point that out,

Nate

“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”


― Omar Khayyám

[Wulfman...]

If anybody wants to read the ENTIRE, ORIGINAL, UNMODIFIED post......I quoted it in my reply a few posts down.
The only difference was my highlighting and bolding of part of the first sentence.


Den

.

[NateS]

If anybody wants to read the ENTIRE, ORIGINAL, UNMODIFIED post......I quoted it in my reply a few posts down.
The only difference was my highlighting and bolding of part of the first sentence.


Den

.

Thanks, Wulfman!

That should help.

Regards, Nate

In fact, now having the ability to compare the two versions, I compliment the first poster on his introduction of diplomacy and background into his revised version. It was sorely lacking in the original version.

[patrick_a]

So, should this crap in a bag design ever see the light of day, I propose that all female users take a hygine test first. We can put the IRS in charge of running the test.

exhibit A: newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/05/15/study-handbags-may-have-more-bacteria-than-a-toilet-seat/



....ducking and running....

[Wakanda]

I have incorporated more of your ideas, clarified others, commented on some.

[NateS]

I have incorporated more of your ideas, clarified others, commented on some.

You changed the original post we are replying, again?

Instead of posting a new version?



Nate

[allen476]

I have incorporated more of your ideas, clarified others, commented on some.

You changed the original post we are replying, again?

Instead of posting a new version?



Nate

You beat me to it.

Obviously the OP has not read one single post in this thread.

Good luck in getting the companies with listening to your suggestions. I'm sure they will have as good a chuckle as we did.

[archangle]

I want something that looks like a Star Trek console or a piece of Borg technology

Airway resistance is futile. You will be ventilated.

[MaxDarkside]

I like my Resmed S9 and travel bag just the way they are, thank you. It is small, compact, easy to travel with, nice pocket for Rx papers (papers that no security agent nor airline has ever asked to look at anywhere in the world). I'll 2nd the requests for streaming data, or a means to access it with Excel or other software, over the network (meaning accessing some format other the funky medical data file structure).

[space45]

I know this is a old thread and I am new to the whole PAP thing, but I really do think he was onto something. he had some great ideas and they got shot down.

why does this group seem so negative? can one not say cool ideas? I can see how he got off on the wrong foot with his whole embarrassed about PAP machine thing, but other then that the over all idea is good, maybe a hard case designed one and not a soft, but his thinking is sound, I would say, would have loved to have been here when he was posting. poor guy last posted Mon Jul 15, 2013 3:59 pm, can see why with how he got jumped on. not every one is as hard to get rid of as me, you guys jumped on me as well, some had good constructive things to say even if I did not like hearing them I was glad for the input.

why not have a completely self contained package that can be worn over the shoulder or on a wheel chair that would hold your mask tubing and unit with battery pack and charger and water and every thing? a completely portable unit for the DISABLED, I think you guys missed that one big time. his main target was the ones not fully able to get around and do things for themselves, it was truly a great idea. remember what I said about companies TARGETING the sweet spot for $$$$, so what about the ones that would like to be more independent yet do suffer disabilities? or the ones that are on the go allot? anyone living out of a suitcase should love the idea. every thing in one complete package that is easy and convenient to move from place to place. why not add a spring loaded retractable cord like some vacuum cleaners have? love the modular idea.

I do think the forum was overly critical of this idea. just my opinion for what it is worth.