Software consistancy

I have a Remstar Auto CFLEX and use the encore software almost on a daily basis but I wonder how accurate this software really is. I gather Resmed, and Goodnight I think, and probably others, also have software that is supposed to feedback apneas, flow limitations, snores etc. I'm wondering if anyone has actually had two machines and was able to compare the feedback results. Just curiosity but a lot of us do a lot tweaking using the Encore results and it would be nice to know machines with different algorithms actually give consistant feedback. Just imagine if you are getting AHI's of 1 with your Respironics and 10 with the Resmed. Then what do you do. I guess you could throw away the Resmed?

I've used all three major brands of autopap (PB 420E auto, ResMed Autoset Spirit, and two Respironics REMstar Autos - one before C-Flex was introduced to their auto, and now their auto with C-Flex.)

I got essentially the same results (data-wise and how I "felt") with any of the autopaps. The ResMed VPAP III ST bi-level gave me slightly higher AHI's (running it as a regular bi-level in spontaneous mode) but still no difference in how I felt in the mornings...good.

I think we can get too caught up in trying to study/compare the AHI number we get from one brand of autopap to another. It's interesting to look at, and if there were drastic differences (like the 1 vs 10 you posed, Fred) between brands it could suggest a change needed in any number of things ranging from change of machine, mask, pressure settings, etc.

You were talking about extremes, but I'd also mention this, since some people get concerned if their AHI varies just a few points, too:

It's not unusual to see a fair amount of variation in our AHI on a single autopap machine, even when nothing has been changed...same machine, same mask, same (or none) meds, etc. Obviously something has changed, but it might be as simple as having spent more time in one sleep position or another, or subtler changes in exercise or diet.

As long as the AHI is staying below 5, I really wouldn't worry about whether Autopap A was usually giving me less than 1.0, Autopap B was usually toting up a 2's and 3's and C was often giving me numbers in the 4.0 range. As long as I felt equally good on any of them, I'd look more to which features I preferred about each one.

This is something else to consider... say that Autopap C is registering an AHI of 6 or 7 for you, and Autopap A is showing an AHI of 3 or below most of the time. Who's to say which one is really giving you the "true" AHI picture? Just because one autopap says "AHI 3" doesn't mean it might not have been missing sensing some events picked up by the other autopap. Nor does it mean the "lower AHI" machine was necessarily treating you better, or controlling events better for you.

The autopaps are only going to record what their particular algorithms are designed to sense and note. If something is happening in your breathing, but the machine doesn't "see" it, it's not going to put that on your overnight data.

Unless there were great discrepancies in the data or more importantly, in how I felt using one brand of machine or another, I wouldn't worry about the AHI's being several points different.

RG re the ResMed Elite & Spirit.

Does either give the same quantity, quality & range of info as the RemStar ?

I have the opportunity to try an S-7 Elite & there is a further opportunity to have it upgraded to a Spirit then do a further eval.

What I can't determine thus far is just how the data on the ResMed is got at & then analyse. Best I can tell is that it has to be uploaded to ResMed's own server then (as a clinician) one can look at the data !.

Cheers

DSM

DSM, I've never used a ResMed Elite...only the Spirit.

The Spirit uses Autoscan software and a download cable to get the info out of the machine directly to your computer. Doesn't have to go up to anyone's server first. Even if a person gets the pricy "ResLink" attachment to add SPO2 recording to the data, the downloading in the morning is still done directly from your machine to your computer.

I think the ResLink can use a card and card reader...not sure about that...but whether it's done with a card or cable, even the ResLink info doesn't have to go up to an outside server. If I want to see my overnight SPO2's while using any machine, I'd think it's easier (and much cheaper) to use a separate overnight recording pulse oximeter from elsewhere. I've read that most DME's provide that free on a doctor's order.

Most people don't need to have that checked every night ...just once or twice a year would be a'plenty for most, if they even felt the need to have it checked at all. It would be nice, of course, if all these machines had built-in recording pulse oximetry, but I don't think the ResLink attachment is worth the money just for that purpose unless there was a real need for a person's oxygen levels to be monitored every night or quite often.

Personally, the Spirit's Autoscan software was my least favorite of all three major manufacturers' software. Harder to figure out what was happening when...no notation of snores, graph was confusing. Perhaps it was just me, but the Autoscan software annoyed me rather than helped me. I never have tried a ResLink attachment for the Spirit. The PB 420E auto's Silverlining software is my favorite, then the REMstar Auto's Encore Pro software.

The machine itself..the Spirit...was a good one and treated me well. But so do the other autopaps, and I like their software much better. One nice plus with the Spirit was being able to punch a button or two on the machine itself in the morning, to see the AHI info without having to do a download. However, the graphs and details are what I like to see, and you won't get to see that without using the software.

So the answer is yes, the machines, all other things being equal, and even with different algorithms and software give more or less the same result. I think that's good to know. Thanks RG as usual.

Well, the answer was "yes" for me, but of course that doesn't mean each brand of autopap will suit another person.

There are definitely some people for whom one autopap will gee and haw fine, but another brand of autopap will not read them well or treat them well at all.

I agree with this, Fred -- if one brand of autopap treats a person well, it's very likely that any brand of autopap probably would, too.

Hi,

The ResLink uses a 32meg smartmedia card which can be used in most any standard multi card reader. You can get the Reslink without the recording pulse oximeter for 1/4 of the cost and still have the advantage of more charts display.

Personal I find some parts of the Respironics Encore Pro problem hard to follow. You mention the snore index, the Spirit uses more of a graph showing the rolling average for the last five breaths on a scale of quiet to loud not a number like the Remstar software. I have not seen the Spirit ever trigger on my snores since the only snores recorded are quite weak.

The spirit and the Elite data can be obtained by using a null modem cable, a modem to modem transfer or by card if using a ResLink. DSM is right that the Elite can be updated to the spirit with just a software update since it uses the same sensor array with the same form factor but not all manufactures have that option.

I personally know a few in my town that have a harder time with auto CPAPs than the fixed level CPAP. It is really hard to tell from any bulletin boards exactly how well does any auto CPAP that can give equal treatment for some or for many.

john5757 wrote:Hi,

The ResLink uses a 32meg smartmedia card which can be used in most any standard multi card reader. You can get the Reslink without the recording pulse oximeter for 1/4 of the cost and still have the advantage of more charts display.

<snip>

The spirit and the Elite data can be obtained by using a null modem cable, a modem to modem transfer or by card if using a ResLink. DSM is right that the Elite can be updated to the spirit with just a software update since it uses the same sensor array with the same form factor but not all manufactures have that option.

John,

Many many thanks - just what I wanted to hear. I have multi-function media card readers built into 2 of my home servers & 1 of my notebook PCs. And, null modem cables & setup are standing on my head for me in terms of comms.

Is there downloadable software that can interpret the output of the Elite/Spirit ?. I have no real fears at being able to unscramble the data myself & formatting it if I have to

Cheers

DSM