Getting first APAP - model recommendations??

Hello - I've just been green lighted to change from my old (sulivan s5!) set-pressure CPAP in favor of an auto. A trial of a couple weeks with a loaned autoset Spirit showed a wide variation in my pressure, hence the doctor's recommendation that I stay with auto. I'm also anxious to be more actively involved in my treatment by downloading data from the machine to a PC / laptop and monitoring over time.

Recommendations? My DME has both Resmed and Respironics. From what I've read so far I'm leaning toward the Respironics m-series with a-flex. If I understand correctly. the choice is entirely mine and the cost to me is identical regardless of model chosen.

- Which is easier to download, given a PC that's not physically near the unit?
- Which vendor's "user" software produces better information?
- Which machine's pressure adjustment algorthym is generally "better"?
_ I'm likely to need to live with this for 5 years or more before Ins. with replace again Which has the later technology / will "age" better? (in the lifespan of the Sullivan I've often thought it was criminal that the machine was as stupid as it apparently was).

FYI - my original pressure from my 2003 PSG was 12. Untreated AHI was 103.2 - the report noted that a complete lack of REM sleep during the entire study probably made this number an underestimate. The study included a fair number of mixed and central. I slept great at that pressure for about 3-4 years. When I complained about returning symptoms a year and a half ago, Dr. raised my pressure to 14...it helped but didn't "fix" the problem...and added bloating and discomfort to my complaint. So this year when it came up again he offered to let me try an APAP or do a new sleep study. I chose the to start with the APAP trial and loved it, so he's making it permanent.

I'm quite technical and not afraid of smartcards, serial connections, Multi-location fiberoptic implementations, etc. but do understand that the easier the connection, the more likely I'll actually do it regularly.

Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.

David

The newest are the Resmed S8 IIs, the Puritan Bennett (now Covidien) has come out w/the Sandman Auto and DeVilBiss has come out w/the IntelliPAP Auto, all in 2008 - but so far all we've heard is PROMISES of the software w/no real indication of just what data that Sandman software is going to be capable of. The Respironics M Series came out in 2006. You've had experience w/the longevity of the Resmed products (your Sullivan). The Puritan Bennett Silverlining software is reported to be the best and Sandman has been a popular PSG software for years. Respironics' Alice software has also been a popular PSG software which you would think translates over into their EncoreViewer software for patients. On the other hand, the M Series has been NOT the brightest design xPAP Respironics has produced. Their pre-M series, the "tank", is a MUCH better device. Scuttlebutt has it that Respironics has a new design in the works or at least an improved model over the M Series.

I've had my M Series Auto APAP since October 2007--to me, it's the dream machine, had no problems. Use Encore Pro software, downloads data easily. Good luck!

Slinky wrote:The newest are the Resmed S8 IIs, the Puritan Bennett (now Covidien) has come out w/the Sandman Auto and DeVilBiss has come out w/the IntelliPAP Auto, all in 2008 - but so far all we've heard is PROMISES of the software w/no real indication of just what data that Sandman software is going to be capable of. The Respironics M Series came out in 2006. You've had experience w/the longevity of the Resmed products (your Sullivan). The Puritan Bennett Silverlining software is reported to be the best and Sandman has been a popular PSG software for years. Respironics' Alice software has also been a popular PSG software which you would think translates over into their EncoreViewer software for patients. On the other hand, the M Series has been NOT the brightest design xPAP Respironics has produced. Their pre-M series, the "tank", is a MUCH better device. Scuttlebutt has it that Respironics has a new design in the works or at least an improved model over the M Series.

I can report that the Sandman has software and I think it's really good. If you look at the following thread, you'll see some posted waveform reports and also some discussion about what's in the reports.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35957&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... n&start=15

Mindy

Thanks to all who have posted so far. I'm going to have to check with my DME and see what if any other mfr. they can offer. I'm intrigued by "Sandman" as that appears on my PSG report. it would seem I've already used that but never knew it.

Any comments on "ease of connectivity" to a PC from folks who are doing that? Any gotchas or "undocumented features" (bugs) I should know about with one brand or another?

I want to be able to consistently get at decent data and trends, without (hopefully) having to put two hours a day into it. Are there particular brands / models to avoid and/or look for?

Thanks again!

David

depends on your SDB and your pressure required, tolerance to CPAP etc.

But I'd get the Sandman Auto if your pressure is 12 or under, above that you are approaching Bipap territory, get to 15 cm and its Bipap Auto.

But if you have a tendency for a few Central apnea and don't want to see a machine respond to those to make them worse, get a Sandman Auto. You can always run a lower Minimum pressure and compensate for any exhale relief. Once you are asleep you don't gain any benefit from that exhale relief anyway.

Sandman Auto has AutoRamp, you can set that up and still have a higher initial pressure at the same time. Reports are the best you'll find and only improved with Sandman release.

The Sandman data can also be exported to Excel (using their software0 if you want to do your own thing.

There are 2 ways to get data from the Sandman to your computer:

1. a cable that direct connects the two

2. a 2-step process if your computer isn't near your Sandman and you don't want to move either. There's something that looks like a Smartcard (with contacts), but you actually punch out the central part which is then shaped like a key. That goes into a slot on the Sandman which then shows data download progress on the LCD. That "key" then is inserted into a slot in a little gizmo that looks like a USB drive which then plugs into a USB port on your computer. It's not difficult - just seems a little awkward. Why couldn't they have had a 1-part solution?

Anyway, it's not hard and the "Smartcard" holds over 100 sessions.

Mindy

My apologies to Coviden and the Sandman software! I skipped ahead of myselfand omitted the F&P introduced this year, thus confusing the Covidien Sandman w/the omitted Fisher & Paykel IntelliPAP Auto: I meant that Fisher & Paykel has introduced the IntelliPAP Auto this year with the promise of software that has not yet been forthcoming nor do we have any idea just what data that software will provide. Mui bad!!!

My apologies to Coviden and the Sandman software! I skipped ahead of myself and omitted the F&P introduced this year, thus confusing the Covidien Sandman w/the omitted Fisher & Paykel IntelliPAP Auto: I meant that Fisher & Paykel has introduced the IntelliPAP Auto this year with the promise of software that has not yet been forthcoming nor do we have any idea just what data that software will provide. Mui bad!!!

Actually the Intellipap Auto is made by Devilbiss and the software and module are now available:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/devilb ... ystem.html

My apologies to DeVilBiss. Grrrrr. When I get past Resmed, Respironics and Puritan Bennett/Covidien my memory slips. Duh. I guess 'cause those 3 have held my interest the longest. (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it). Thanks for the corrections, guys! I'm gonna go crawl back in my hole and shut up.

I am considering picking up a Sandman Auto and turning my Resmed S8 Auto into a boat anchor.

Well, not really... I'll keep the Resmed as a backup.

I do like what I am reading about the Sandman.