SPO-7500 usage results and accuracy

From my posts on the thread link below:

"I'm pleased to see so many satisfied users of the SPO 7500, even though I chose the Nonin 3100 last year. For many SDB sufferers it is very important to monitor the oxygen levels often.

A definite correlation can be seen between oxygen saturation levels and SDB events. Not necessarily in-line with each other to the second, but obviously linked in the majority of SDB events. Though, dangerously low O2 saturations don't always coincide with charted SDB events.

That's partly why I believe that PAP machines should have a module option for plug-in oximetry. In other words: They should have the basics in the firmware to handle a fit-in or add-on oximetry data acquisition module. And the module should be versatile enough to handle data from most FDA approved oximeters through use of cable adapters. Conversely, oximeter makers could provide intelligent adapters for their products to marry-into PAP oximetry modules. Then, there's the consideration of the display of data from PAP therapy and oximetry -- with each oximeter maker using different formats that could be a hassle." And more.... at the link....

viewtopic.php?p=249405&highlight=#249405

What I don't undertand is: How can the patients not be important enough for the PAP and oximeter makers to prioritize getting the two married effectively in order to provide the best possible continuous assessment and treatment for patients.

Of course... the oximeter makers are going to balk until after they've really milked the market for consumer-level standalone oximeters... like the ones we're using to try to undertand it all and better our therapy and health.

Nodzy

What I hope to do with my recording oximeter (when I finally get the replacement from SPO, the one I purchased from med1online was defective) is see whether there's a difference in my o2 saturation on nights when I tape vs. don't tape. With the encore pro software, I really haven't seen much effect from taping on my AHI or leak rate. But I think a better test of whether taping makes a difference would be comparing O2 saturation on nights when I tape vs. nights when I don't. I think a week each would be enough data to draw a reasonably valid inference about the effect of taping. (Though, the inference would only be valid for me - things of course are different for different people depending on whether and how much they mouth-breath without tape and probably other factors I can't even imagine).

Best,
Ron

roncron wrote:What I hope to do with my recording oximeter (when I finally get the replacement from SPO, the one I purchased from med1online was defective) is see whether there's a difference in my o2 saturation on nights when I tape vs. don't tape. With the encore pro software, I really haven't seen much effect from taping on my AHI or leak rate. But I think a better test of whether taping makes a difference would be comparing O2 saturation on nights when I tape vs. nights when I don't. I think a week each would be enough data to draw a reasonably valid inference about the effect of taping. (Though, the inference would only be valid for me - things of course are different for different people depending on whether and how much they mouth-breath without tape and probably other factors I can't even imagine).

Best,
Ron

What was defective ... just curious.

Ron,

I think that would be a very useful comparison!

Mindy

Ron,
Great idea. Knowing what works best by seeing it in numbers and charted makes a world of difference in confidence and trust in what is used. I'll be watching for the answers.

Though I've avoided taping thus far, I probably should have tried it. But I siss'd out on that method.

Nodzy

Dreamstalker wrote:

What was defective ... just curious.

The wrist unit could never communicate with my computer. I read the manual, followed all the instructions, spent 30 minutes on the phone with spo tech support, tried all kinds of things and nothing worked.

However, the oximeter worked fine on its own - I could put it on and see my O2 saturation while awake. I just couldn't use the overnight recording and reporting features, which of course is why I bought the thing.

It's a little frustrating - it's now been 2 months since I gave med1online my $375, and I still don't have a working oximeter. I'm sure it's not their fault that the unit they happened to ship me was defective. But still....

I had a positive experience with SPO's tech support. It wasn't hard to reach a real human, she could communicate very well and was located in the US rather than India or other faraway place. She was also helpful, and offered to send a replacement unit.

Off topic:

I'd be grateful if someone could tell me how to properly quote other cpaptalkers' posts. If you look at the way I did it above, the quote doesn't say who I'm quoting, so I had to manually type in "Dreamstalker wrote:". I did it that way by copying and pasting text from Dreamstalker's post, then selecting it, then pressing the "Quote" button just above the box where I enter the text of my post. But then I had to manually add "Dreamstalker wrote:" above the quoted passage.

I apologize if this has been answered elsewhere. [/quote]

Ron,

Just click on the "quote" button at the top right of the post you want to quote (not the reply button). It will open up a reply window with the appropriate quote stuff already there. You can then delete the parts you don't want to quote.

Alternatively, when you do the above once, you'll see how to get a name in there manually if you prefer.

There may be an easier way ... I'd love to hear it!

Mindy

mindy wrote: Just click on the "quote" button at the top right of the post you want to quote (not the reply button). It will open up a reply window with the appropriate quote stuff already there. You can then delete the parts you don't want to quote.

Thanks, Mindy! That's pretty cool.

roncron wrote:I had a positive experience with SPO's tech support. It wasn't hard to reach a real human, she could communicate very well and was located in the US rather than India or other faraway place. She was also helpful, and offered to send a replacement unit.

Ron & Mindy,
Tech support and warranty duration were two of my prime concerns when buying an oximeter. It's great to hear that SPO is great to deal with.

Now I kind of wish I had chosen the much less expensive SPO 7500. Since it seems that it's a really durable product, as I'm reading on the board.

Tough, Ron, I'm sorry to hear about your defective unit and the delay in getting a functional unit to you. Good luck.

Nodzy

And Ron, I thought Med1online was supposed to give you a credit to bring price back to $250! It sounds like they didn't deliver on another promise?

Mindy

roncron wrote:What I hope to do with my recording oximeter (when I finally get the replacement from SPO, the one I purchased from med1online was defective) is see whether there's a difference in my o2 saturation on nights when I tape vs. don't tape.

roncron,

I just did about the same thing that you are proposing, but instead of comparing the SaO2 data with nights that I use tape, I compared with nights with large leaks - I do not use tape. I used my CMS50E fingertip recording pulse oximeter which was a great deal at $200.00.

What I found is what one would expect. On nights with high AHI I spent a lot more time in O2 desaturation. The results were over one half a minute compared to NONE. I correlated this with "Large Leaks" and saw that I spent five times longer in desaturation when I do have leaks than when I do not.

The table I made did not come out well, but here is the data anyway. It is organized by minutes of large leakage, AHI, then minutes that SaO2 was less than 88% (results area lot more significant when I raise the O2 desat threshold). ? = no data.

0, 6.9, 0
0, 18.5, 0.6
?, 15, 0.1
11, 13.5, 0.1
0, 5.6, 0
25, 11.9, 0.9
11.5, 8.5, 1.0
0, 7, 0
0, 5.8, 0.2
0, 5.8, ?
5, 9, 0.4
0, 3.9, 0

Average number of minutes SaO2 < 88% on nights when AHI is greater than 8 = 0.52
Average number of minutes SaO2 < 88% on nights when AHI is less than 8 = 0

Average number of minutes SaO2 < 88% on nights without leaks = 0.11
Average number of minutes SaO2 < 88% SaO2 on nights with leaks = 0.5



I have since tightened up my mask a bit and things have gotten a lot better. Foe example, last night was my first with an AHI less than 5. It was 3.9!

I realize that I could have reached that same conclusion by comparing AHI and leaks, but the data was not that compelling. Besides, seeing the SaO2 data got me to actually want to crank up on my Mirage Swift II straps.



Sparky2

Sparky,
Nice... and very interesting. Although not unexpected as results. Real data means so much to mastering one's own therapy and health.

Live long and strong,
Nodzy

sparky2 wrote:I have since tightened up my mask a bit and things have gotten a lot better. Foe example, last night was my first with an AHI less than 5. It was 3.9!

I realize that I could have reached that same conclusion by comparing AHI and leaks, but the data was not that compelling. Besides, seeing the SaO2 data got me to actually want to crank up on my Mirage Swift II straps.

I have noticed that seeing those drops in my blood oxygen levels has been much more of a wake-up call than AHI. It's *wow* - this is "real" and I keep finding it very useful. I had previously come to the conclusion that a pressure of 13 straight CPAP is my best bet (higher than that and OAI goes up) and o2 sats show the same thing. I'm beginning to wonder if I need a BIPAP or VPAP to really get my o2 levels into the normal range. At least I'll have data to show my sleep doc the next time I see her.

Mindy

Thanks, Nodzy. I am really trying to live long and strong.


I am still trying to find what settings are is best for me. So far it is straight 11. I am hoping to see if I can find a constant pressure that is optimal, and then "bracket it" by going to auto. I know that this seems backwards, but I had some terrible AHI numbers when I started this a month ago with my new machine set to auto. I just though that I would see if reasonable numbers were even possible for me.

I have followed the advice around here (finally ) and have been adjusting the pressure slowly - about 1 cmH2O per week. Those that advise this approach were truly correct in that I would have never found the leak correlation if I had been jumping around a lot.

I intend to stay at 11 for another three days or so and then go to 12 and see what happens to my AI and HI numbers. So far they are still both going down. Like you, I look at the the SaO2 (and pulse) numbers as a measure of how much damage I am doing to myself. The are frighteningly "real."

I am still rather new here. Why would you be considering BiPAP?


Sparky2

This is an area about which I know just a tiny bit - and just enough to be dangerous! I am under the impression that for some people when the pressure gets a bit higher, their breathing becomes unstable and that a BIPAP or VPAP may be needed to get past that problem. Please don't take that as accurate since it seems like it's a complex subject and I haven't even begun to understand the intricacies. There have been some fascinating threads on the topic but I'm still struggling along.

I hope some of our gurus will chime in and provide much better info than I can!

Mindy