Anything ever updated?

With all the electronic devices and the software that drives them, I'm constantly updating both the firmware and the software. It's almost a monthly process for all of it. I've been on CPAP for over seven years and I'm not aware of any update to either of the machines I've used. Dreanstation for five years, Resmed Autosense for two plus.You would think that over the years, they might do something like improve the algorithms or something to improve the machines performance. Am I missing something here?
Thumper

Thumper1947 wrote: ↑

Tue May 31, 2022 2:28 pm

With all the electronic devices and the software that drives them, I'm constantly updating both the firmware and the software. It's almost a monthly process for all of it. I've been on CPAP for over seven years and I'm not aware of any update to either of the machines I've used. Dreanstation for five years, Resmed Autosense for two plus.You would think that over the years, they might do something like improve the algorithms or something to improve the machines performance. Am I missing something here?
Thumper

Yes, medical equipment. different rules than a playstation.

Wouldn't know anything about a playstation, but I've flown planes, driven cars and tractors, used computers, phones , IPADs and a lot more that are all updated. So you are saying you put a medical device out and never update it for the life of the machine. You seem to know the medical rules, so what are they, enlighten us.
Thumper

Thumper1947 wrote: ↑

Tue May 31, 2022 2:48 pm

So you are saying you put a medical device out and never update it for the life of the machine.

That's pretty much what happens with most cpap machines.

In the 13 years I have been on cpap I know of ResMed pushing on update and that was on the S9 model to fix a software issue with the humidifier.

The auto adjusting algorithm changed when the S8 models were discontinued and the S9 models were released.
Other than that the algorithm itself hasn't changed.

Pugsy,
That does seem to be the way it is. It just seems odd that a car(Tesla) pushes out updates all the time that improve the vehicles performance and correct it deficiencies while a medical device that people rely on for their health never sees the light of day for it's lifetime. No arguing that's the way it is, just strange.
Thumper

With all of my "Legacy" generation Respironics machines (straight CPAP and Autos), the very first firmware level in 2005 was the best.....2.5.......and I have machines with all the levels from 2.5 to 2.8.

Be careful what you wish for.

Den

.

Thumper1947 wrote: ↑

Tue May 31, 2022 2:48 pm

Wouldn't know anything about a playstation, but I've flown planes, driven cars and tractors, used computers, phones , IPADs and a lot more that are all updated. So you are saying you put a medical device out and never update it for the life of the machine. You seem to know the medical rules, so what are they, enlighten us.
Thumper

No he didn't say, "you put a medical device out and never update it for the life of the machine". Not at all.

Unsure why you thought that's what he was saying, after all you've flown planes, driven cars and tractors, used computers, phones , IPADs and a lot more.

Consumer products are not the same as medical products.
Cars, computers, and phones are always making plans for the "next big thing";
as the marketplace relies on yearly "first adopters", for those big ticket sales.
Medical suppliers have additional risk of liability; and are reluctant to go off half-cocked.
Mandated safety testing reduces the frequency of new releases before completion.
But it does not always work that way--respironics is proof of that.
What they have gotten away with is scandalous--I can smell the brimstone here.

Thumper1947 wrote: ↑

Tue May 31, 2022 2:28 pm

You would think that over the years, they might do something like improve the algorithms or something to improve the machines performance. Am I missing something here?
Thumper

I would suspect that a change to an algorithm might require an FDA approval (a process that appears to be a costly and lengthy). If that is so, then manufacturers are unlikely to update software to provide a "tweak" to software unless it has major significance.

Imagine, that the accepted standard for apnea (in terms of time) was changed from 10 seconds to 9 or 11 seconds (unlikely I know, but follow my thinking). Manufacturers would likely realize that they have to modify the software. OTOH, there is no (TTBOMK) accepted standard for evaluation and grading of flow limitations. Tweaking that algorithm for existing machines, is probably considered less imperative and might more easily be put off.

Of course my thinking is based on the notion that a PAP device requires a FDA approval, and my naive acceptance that the FDA approval hinges on the performance of the device as well as the components to show that the device does no harm and is beneficial. (But I could be engaging in wishful thinking)