BIG UPDATE: NEW RESPIRONICS PR Series Auto CPAP Released!

Many of the M series problems have work arounds.

The major humidifier problem was corrected.

They either adjust to the sound level of find a way to muffle it.

The blue lights can be covered if they are annoying.

And the power brick is an annoyance, but nothing major, as is the size.

People are watching this new release like hawks because the M series was viewed as a step backwards from the previous "tank" models, and they don't want to see another misstep by Respironics.

jdm2857 wrote:Many of the M series problems have work arounds.

The major humidifier problem was corrected.

They either adjust to the sound level of find a way to muffle it.

The blue lights can be covered if they are annoying.

And the power brick is an annoyance, but nothing major, as is the size.

People are watching this new release like hawks because the M series was viewed as a step backwards from the previous "tank" models, and they don't want to see another misstep by Respironics.

OK so please help out a newbie here. I am trying to pick out a new machine to upgrade to.

Been doing a lot of reading and I was leaning very heavily into M" series auto with AFLEX, an integral humidifier, Viewer Software, and a card reader...

But now I see the above listed problems.

What was the humidifier problem that was corrected?

How loud was the sound level??? I currently have an old REMPlus cflex, was the sound louder that that one ???

What is the power brick? My currently machine just plugs into the humidifier heated tray that plugs into the wall...

I thought I was getting a small handle on what is going on but now I am sliding backwards again... HELP ...

My advice - stick with the "tank" you have, until you can get some solid reviews on the new machine from forum members.

Don't buy the M Series. It's being phased out. No sense upgrading to it at this point.

Cheers,
B.

Babette wrote:My advice - stick with the "tank" you have, until you can get some solid reviews on the new machine from forum members.

Don't buy the M Series. It's being phased out. No sense upgrading to it at this point.

Cheers,
B.

I don't understand why I should avoid the m series? I've read hundreds of posts from users indicating it has been a reliable machine for years. I'm going to pick mine up on Monday, even if it's being "phased" out. I'll let others test drive the newer models.

Regards, Rick

6PtStar wrote:I think that the folks talking about a USB connection are not thinking about connecting it by a USB Cable but rather using a USB Thumb Drive Memory Key.

If someone really prefers USB they can use one of these SD cards which has a USB connector on it:

akcpapguy wrote:Yes this is the same concept used by F&P in their system, Resmed does not use this system.

AKCPAPGUY

Not so.

Respironics System One Humidifier: Tracks temperature and relative humidity in the room. You set how much relative humidity you want to receive at the mask. If your room temperature allows, it delivers this amount of relative humidity. If your room is cold and dry, it will deliver as much as possible without raining out.

From CPAP.com's newsletter, going out tomorrow:

System One Humidity Control. System One technology tracks room humidity and temperature. Should a room temperature and humidification combination be present that would cause rainout, the machine automatically adjusts the humidity level down to avoid condensation.

Also, the System One algorithm is calibrated for 6 foot hoses. A slightly increased possibility for rain out exists if the extra 2 or 4 feet cools the air to the point where it releases condensation. This is unlikely, but we've put an In House Comment recommending a snuggle hose to head off issues of this nature.

F&P Thermosmart: Tracks room temperature and ensures that the absolute humidity specified by the humidifier setting is delivered to you, the user. It can pull this off because the copper coils in the tubing ensure that the air remains warm enough to hold the moisture (instead of dropping it in the tube as the temperature drops). The Respironics engineer I spoke with on this said that the actual temperature drop in the tubing is negligible and that most rain out is going to occur in the mask. I don't believe that - I think that the air cools the further down the hose it goes and if its dumping more in the mask, this is the reason - but that is what he said and it should be passed through to readers of this post.

In my opinion:

Good: Heated Humidifier Plate (S8 II, M Series, REMStar, Everest, IntelliPAP)

Better: Relative Humidity Adjustments (PR System One)

Best: Absolute Humidity Delivery (Therosmart)

Why?

Thermosmart can deliver a specified amount of absolute humidity on request independent of room temperature or relative humidity. Whereas, System One Humidification can adjust relative humidity up or down within the bounds of MOST room temperatures. It'll get to the humidity level you've requested most of the time, but is forced to back down if rainout will be caused for want of temperature control in the tube.

What do you think?

Would you rather have a heavy coiled hose that guarantees absolute humidity delivery or a light, performance hose that will probably give you the humidity you are asking for and won't rain out on you?

Johnny

Johnny,

I will agree Thermosmart with the heated tube is the most accurate himidity delivery system available, however it is only available on the older 600 series F&P machines. The new 200 series from F&P use Ambient Tracking Plus, and this is what I was refering too. The HC 150 uses a similar system, only a little older technology.

Ambient Tracking® Plus Technology
Auto-adjusting humidification technology
This auto-adjusting heater plate maximizes humidity delivered by compensating for changes in room temperature, and during mouth and mask leak. The level of humidity delivered is dependent on room temperature.

This is what's currently offered on the newest models F&P offers, I haven't been given a timeline, but I have been assured that Thermosmart technology will be comming to the 200 series.

I will also offer that people will find that they will be able to run there PRI humidifiers at a lower setting than they are currently using, atleast that's what I have observed.

AKCPAPGUY


Dang work keeps logging me out sorry.

If it says "Respironics" anywhere on it that means it was released just days ago BUT they do not have them in stock yet, they don't have the support for them yet, the sales reps and customer service reps haven't been made aware of them yet and you'll be hard pressed to convince anyone at Respironics they have in fact come out with the item.
This of course is gleaned from dealing with them on three products they've released in the past six months.

I just got off the phone with my DME and she said they are getting briefed on the new machine the first of next week and it should be available two weeks after briefing.........

Still don't know what I want to get, my eyes are getting blurry from all the reading the last couple of days

jskinner wrote:

Hose_Head wrote:uses proprietary smart card > change to SD card instead of USB. NOT an improvement

Would you really want to have to carry your CPAP to the computer to plug it in via USB? An SD card was the right choice, IMHO. Now if they would add WiFi data transfer to the PC that would be cool. I wonder what format the data on the SD card is in?

Hose_Head wrote: improved data collection > addressed? But, new software is unavailable to user

I see no reason to beleive that Encore Pro Viewer won't be updated to work with the PR1?

No, you've misunderstood me. I would much prefer that the CPAP use a flash key (via USB) to store the data. Flash keys are much more common than an SD memory stick, and they plug directly into the computer's USB port. The SD chip requires a reader/adapter which is an extra cost item.

Yes, it may be possible for the end-user to get a copy of Encore Pro Viewer. The catch is that it likely will not be a legal copy.

As far as I'm concerned the M Series is now a very good machine. The humidifier problem (water getting into the machine) was solved by the redesign of the humidifier and the water chamber. Much of that was caused by owners moving the machine with water in the chamber anyway. I bought the new design when it became available but did not have a leak problem with old one.

There are work arounds for the blue lights if they bother people. I have never been bothered by them.

The power brick is a slight inconvenience but not really a problem. Travelling with the old Tank" model plus humidifier took up more room that the M Series with it's integrated humidifier and the power brick.

The noise is not an issue to me and there are workarounds for that as well.

I happen to also own a "tank" model as well. The M Series is "neater" and, in my opinion, works as well as the "tank".

I am not sure there will not be problems with the PR1 in it's initial run. I, for one, will not be considering buying until it has been "test driven" by enough people that bugs (if there are any) are worked out. There may well be a redesign of this shortly too.

There is also the question of whether there will be software for the patient's use with the PR1.

I will not be buying it until my M Series Auto with A-Flex is broken beyond reasonable repair and I don't think that's going to be any time soon. I also have a backup (travel) machine - same model.

I am getting excellent therapy with my current machine.

Maybe some among us don't realize how far SD cards have come of late.
This link shows 16GB SDHC cards. They can be plugged into a USB adapter that accepts SD cards & that then acts like a USB stick.

http://www.cheapchips.com.au/memory/sec ... agod23qhnA

Also there are now 16GB MicroSD cards that usually come with an SD card as an adapter, which as above can plug into a SD (SDHC) USB adapter.
http://www.mobymemory.com/micro-SD.asp


Now if 16GB isn't enough (we are talking about that being able to store years of detailed data), there are now 32GB SD (SDHC) cards ...
http://www.cheapchips.com.au/memory/sec ... c-card.htm


I would doubt that all members of cpaptalk storing their nightly data on the same 32GB SD card would fill it in 10 years.

:)

DSM

I have some of these cards & often show workmates the 16GB MicroSD (also called T-Flash) card. I tell people it is proof god exists because there is no way in the world anyone can fit 128 billion transistors into that tiny chip that is the size of my little fingernail (128 billion bits = 16GB)

AKCPAPGUY wrote:I will agree Thermosmart with the heated tube is the most accurate himidity delivery system available, however it is only available on the older 600 series F&P machines. The new 200 series from F&P use Ambient Tracking Plus, and this is what I was refering too. The HC 150 uses a similar system, only a little older technology.

Ah, my mistake. I thought we were talking 600 series thermosmart vs. this new Respironics stuff. You are correct, the new autos from F&P don't have Thermosmart but do have (better but not best) ambient tracking. I've not been able to get an expected date out of anyone either.

AKCPAPGUY wrote:I will also offer that people will find that they will be able to run there PRI humidifiers at a lower setting than they are currently using, at least that's what I have observed.

I expect the same for the majority of the people. If you already have 20% relative humidity in the room where you are sleeping and you want 60% relative delivered, the heated humidifier will providing the missing "gap" of 40%. Previously, you'd get whatever the absolute was for a given heat setting or in thermosmart, an absolute ignoring ambient relative humidity.

None the less, it bugs me that an exact amount of absolute humidity can't be reliably delivered. It seems to lift the skirt of the whole premise of respiratory therapy as a exact science that will do damage to people if considered anything else. If the "we'll give a best try, but if we can't, oh well" has passed right through the FDA, what is the big deal with needing an RX for an Auto at all, as its giving a best try too - and I'll go on a limb and say an even better apples to apples try. It runs away UP, this runs away DOWN.

Johnny

[quote="Hose_Head]Flash keys are much more common than an SD memory stick[quote]

There are an aweful lot of both sold. Cost is almost exactly the same.

[quote="Hose_Head"]The SD chip requires a reader/adapter which is an extra cost item.[quote]

Not all SD cards require an adaptor to plug into USB. See my previous picture.

Why do we care so much about debating the merits of SD cards.... IF they don't even let us access the data?

So far, all my inquires to Respironics have been met with no reply.

They better be releasing a patient viewer (or explaining why not). Come on Respironics... feed us a bone. (or in my case a banana).