Opus mask not compatible with Resmed machine

Hello - i am a newbie from the land down under. i have found much luck with the opus mask. i am still trialling the machine and need to purchase one asap. i am considering the resmed s8 lightweight *which is what i think they call the elite here in Oz). i have seen on another forum that the opus mask is not compatible with a resmed machine and find that too odd to be true. can anyone confirm/deny this for me asap as am to complete my purchase in the next 3 days. i find this a little to absurd to be true, but one never knows..... the urgent urgency is that i am able to purchase a slightly used machine + 3i humidifier for a very good price from a highly reputable Oz CPAP company, but i want to make the right choice as i dont want to give up my opus mask as i LOVE it. and thanks to those who have showed me the dental floss trick to assist with leakage, works a charm! cheers GVD

I am NOT acquainted with the Opus as I don't yet have one, but if it will connect up to the ResMed with the standard hose I don't think the Opus cares where the air is coming from. That would be the only thing I can think of would be the physical, mechanical hookup that would limit its use. Good luck on buying the ResMed machine. IMHO it is top of the line.

I think the incompatility may be with the "other" forum ...

Perhaps they meant to say that the mask setting on ResMed machines is incompatible with masks other than ResMed masks? That would make more sense but it still would not matter as far as treatment is concerned. You see ResMed machines have a built in calculator that subtracts the natural or designed CO2 leak rate from a list of ResMed masks (hence the mask setting). However as Jim stated, the mask does not know or care where the air pressure is comming from and neither does your airway. The ResMed machine will pump the Rx air regardless of what mask is used ... it's just that the leak data provieded by the ResMed machine LED will be adjusted according to the mask setting. You can still use the LED data nonetheless and do your own arithmatic to determine the true leak rate for your Opus however.

One other reason you may have seen a comment regarding incompatibilities is that it may have been a ResMed only dealer trying to encourage ResMed only purchases ... it does happen ... greed abounds in the sleep health industry.


BTW - Welcome to the "best" forum for all things CPAP!

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greenvelvetdragon wrote:i am considering the resmed s8 lightweight *which is what i think they call the elite here in Oz).

I don't think the Australian S8 Lightweight is equivalent to the S8 Elite. At least not from what I see in the descriptions of the S8 Lightweight at resmed's australian website:

S8 Lightweight User Guide On page 13:

OTHER VIEWABLE INFORMATION
You can also view the total number of hours of treatment (USED HRS); the number of sessions that the S8 LIGHTWEIGHT was used in a usage period (USAGE); and the current software version installed on your unit (SW). Access to all of these screens is provided via the menu. See “How to enter the menu screens” on page 12.

I didn't see an "Efficacy" data screen on page 12.

And....
S8 Lightweight clinician brochure

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
(S8 LIGHTWEIGHT ONLY)

Data storage
Used hours and usage days available from flow
generator. Usage days for the 180 most recent
sessions available locally and remotely via
PC application


No mention of "Efficacy" (AHI/leak data) or "EPR" (pressure relief when you exhale) -- both of which the S8 Elite has.

I may have missed something, but it looks to me like the S8 Lightweight is more like the S8 Compact or Escape.

You might want to double check before you get a Lightweight.

thanks for the info-i tend to agree dreamstalker that it probably was a resmed dealer as i can find no other evidence why an opus wouldnt care where the air was coming from as Jim so aptly put it!

and thanks to rested gal about the clairification on the machinces, it is the compact/escape which is all i am looking for at this point. something pretty straight forward no frills. my OSA has been pretty straight forward, oddly enough as it took about a million years for someone to FINALLY diagnose. i travel quite extensively in my work, and i live in a VERY remote part of Australia, cyclone territory in the wet tropics and we are always losing power during the wet season which runs from now until april, hence i need something that will work on battery backup quite simply.

will have another chat with the sleep doc today and finalise my machine choice. thnaks for all the help. this is a great forum!! cheers GVD

greenvelvetdragon wrote:all i am looking for at this point. something pretty straight forward no frills.

I used an S7 Lightweight and then an S8 Lightweight for several years and they are excellent, very reliable flow generators. They will indeed work fine with Fisher & Paykel masks as that is primarily what I use.

PM me if there's anything specific you need to know.

Cheers,

Bill