Post
by Velbor » Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:16 pm
Quote: What could be sweeter in CPAPland than a thermostatically controlled nose?
Actually, Fisher & Paykel makes humidification units with thermostatically controlled hoses (and, by extension, it works on noses). The following is a slight modification of a post I had made not long ago on another message board:
"Another option to consider is one of the "high end" Fisher & Paykel stand-alone humidifier units, such as the HC500 or MR720 or MR730 (or MR600 series). These are designed primarily for ventilator patients either at home (HC) or in intensive medical care (MR), but they are adaptable to CPAP use. These are similar to the F&P HC100 and HC150 units (and use the same reservoirs), but are much larger, much heavier, and much more complex. They are servo-controlled, so the water temperature is determined by temperature sensors at the two ends of the air hose.
"The units are often available on eBay, for between $50 and $100. But you need to be careful: three attachments are required and the units are virtually useless without all three of them: (1) the temperature sensor wire - of the correct length, (2) a heater attachment wire for the machine, and often an adaptor for the hose heater wire and (3) an air hose with an integral heater wire. (Single-patient plastic hoses, an "Isothermal Breathing Circuit" or "Adult Inspiratory Line Heated", with Airlife / Allegiance the usual manufacturer, last a long time, but are not cleanable in the usual sense. F&P also makes more durable compatible hoses, but with different heater connectors.)
"I use the MR730 with my CPAP, and an Airlife tube. It allows me to set the desired temperature of air delivered to my mask; I am most comfortable with 35 degrees C. I can also set the temperature of the air immediately above the reservoir; I set it 3 degrees lower. That means that the heating wire in the tube warms up the air the final 3 degrees. And that means that there is virtually never rainout: the tube temperature is higher at the patient end than at the humidifier end. But the air is nearly fully saturated with water vapor, and I breathe comfortably warm air just a bit below body temperature (37 C). I love the system.
"Retail costs for this stuff is thousands of dollars. If you can find all of the pieces inexpensively on eBay as I did (less than retail for a new HC150, but all of the pieces are rarely offered together in one package), this is an ideal humidification system. But you've got to be comfortable with the technology! I post this only for completeness, and because I don't recall seeing it mentioned as a great alternative for the adventurous!"
ResMed S8 AutoSet Vantage / Respironics M-Series Auto
ResMed Mirage Activa / UMFF masks
F&P MR730 heated-tube servo humidifier
SmartCards & software
OSA diagnosed 11/1997
Klearway dental appliance 2/99 - 12/08
CPAP since 12/04, nightly since 12/08