robysue wrote:You've made this claim more than once. Exactly what data does the IntelliPAP record that the S9 does not record???
Exhale Puff Index and Pressure Plateau Time are two things that instantly spring to mind. EPI refers to inhaling through your nose but exhaling through your mouth (which would make the PAP therapy work, but would still leave you with a dry mouth, despite you not being a mouthbreather), and the PPT will ping if you are on an automatic machine and you need a pressure greater than the maximum pressure it's set to blow - effectively telling you that you either need your pressure to be bumped up, or if it's at max already, possibly that you need a BiPAP machine. To the best of my knowledge, the S9 Auto does not do that, and any lower S9 version (such as the Escape) will not even record AHI, which should be one of the most basic recordings.
And comparing the Smartcode system to SH is comparing apples to oranges. The Smartcode printouts, nice as they are, do not include the wave form data among other things. A better comparison is to compare the Smartcode system to either the S9's LCD data OR to compare the Smartcode system to ResMed's newly launched SleepSeeker website. But having said that, I'll also add that my impression of the Smartcode stuff is that it runs rings around SleepSeeker and the LCD; but it is NOT as easy to use as the S9's LCD data. And the S9's LCD data is remarkably complete for a quick run down of the statistical over night numbers for those who don't want to look at the full data day.
I'll totally concede on this point. You're right.
Objectively, the IntelliPAP has better features than the S9 by a long shot.
Again, you've made this claim a number of times. But the only features you've mentioned deal with the power supply. And as nice as the extra-long warranty is, that is NOT a "feature" in my opinion since a "feature" (to me) is something that affects the day-to-day use of the machine and is meant to make the machine easier or more comfortable to use.
Obviously both the power supply and the warranty are important to you, but they may or may not be the critical features that others look for. As you yourself said, there are people out there who swear ResMed's EPR system is the best exhalation relief system out there and who may not like how the IntelliPAP's smartflex or the PR Flex family for that matter. (Personally? I was in that small minority of folks who don't particularly like the EPR system. But then I also dislike the Bi-Flex on my BiPAP even more.)
And finally understand: I'm a System One BiPAP user and I have no dog in this S9-IntelliPAP fight. Rather I'm genuinely interested in learning what it is that the IntelliPAP can do that the S9 (and the System One) does not do in terms of data recording and features
beyond the power supply and location of the humidifier which are NOT all that important to me.
I have no issues with your post at all; you make excellent points and raise valid concerns. In the way of features, there are still several differences, but most of them are very minor and most people don't care one lick about 'em, but I'll list everything I know about the differences between the machines - most will not be day-to-day things, but any difference I consider a feature, so I'll list everything. Whichever differences you like better, that's the better machine for you. I'll be comparing the IntelliPAP Auto, S9 Auto, and System One 460 Auto, just to give 'em all a fair shake. There are several you may not care about, just as there are several I personally don't care about (off the top of my head, the filter and heated tube, for instance).
The IntelliPAP has two filters, a disposable and nondisposable, that come with the machine. A spare of each in included in when you purchase a new machine. The S9 has a disposable filter, and does not come with a spare when you purchase a new machine. The 460 can have two filters, both disp. and nondisp. but only comes with a nondisp. new and does not come with a spare. Most people don't care about this, as the disp. filters are dirt cheap, and some people don't even care if they have one or not.
The IntelliPAP and S9 can both break if water spills into the machine, and this voids the warranty. The 460 is specifically designed so that water cannot spill into the machine (though it's better not to tempt fate regardless). This isn't something you generally need to worry about unless you travel a lot, but if you have a kid or dog and they pull the machine off your nightstand by accident just once, that can be a very costly issue. This is not a day-to-day usage feature, but still good to know.
The S9 can have a heated tube attached, while the IntelliPAP and 460 can't*. One of the biggest boons of the heated tube is that you can set an exact temperature, instead of using an arbitrary scale that all machines use.
*There are 3rd party heated tubes, such as the Hybernite, that will fit all machines. In this case, though, I am talking about the machine being specifically designed for a heated tube made by the same company.
The S9 has the ramp automatically come on when the machine turns on, while the 460 and IntelliPAP both have a ramp button. I actually like the button better, as most newbies like the ramp, but after a few years, it feels like you're not getting any air when the ramp is on, and if you wake up for any reason or have trouble falling asleep at night, you can just hit the ramp again instead of turning your machine off and on again.
All three have an auto-on and auto-off feature than can be enabled or disabled.
IntelliPAP has the smallest travel bag. If you don't travel, this doesn't make one bit of difference, but if you do travel a lot, it's INCREDIBLY useful to know. The other two are a toss-up, but I'd say Respironics is second best and S9 comes in third. This is disputable.
IntelliPAP is made in America, 460 is made in Singapore and assembled in America, and S9 is made in New Zealand. Another example of something I don't care about at all, but some people really love that.
IntelliPAP sits on top of the humidifier, while the other two sit side-by-side. This is something you said you don't care about, but everyone's different, and again, if a person travels a lot, this makes a big difference.
IntelliPAP doesn't have a power brick, the others do. Again, something you don't care about, but some (especially travelers) might.
IntelliPAP has a longer warranty. Not a day-to-day feature at all, but incredibly important to someone with limited income if the machine breaks.
ResMed looks the nicest. It can also have skins made for it, so you can design it to look like anything you want. This is one of the silliest differences, for me, but again, some people will love that.
Those are all the differences I can think of that are fully and easily quantifiable. Since everyone weights things differently, different ones will matter for different people, and I felt any issue with making the machine easier to travel with was important to note, as many people travel a lot regardless, and apparently all across the United States the DOT and various companies (Wal*Mart being one of the biggest) have started instituting mandatory sleep tests for their truck drivers, and the FDA is likewise making sleep studies mandatory for pilots (obviously with CPAP machines and constant compliance monitoring if they are proven to have sleep apnea).
Of the given differences and features, I like DeVilbiss the best. Others may like ResMed or Phillips Respironics. The only think I took issue with in this thread was the statement to flat-out ask the doctor for a specific machine without any reason given as to why. If the OP does go ahead and get a ResMed S9 because he likes it better than the others, more power to him. But saying "Get this machine" without any reasoning given is, in my mind, no better than a DME handing you a random machine and telling you how to use it. You should be able to choose which one you like best. That's all.
