Respironics M Series Aflex, ResMED AUTO 25 vs. S9 Autoset

Hello All

I have been newly diagnosed for OA and am going to buy my first machine. I was advised CPAP pressure of 8 and Doctor didn't mind me buying a CPAP or AutoCPAP. However, on auto mode both machines have given me median of 8.5 and a 95percentile of 10.5.

I tried Respironics M Series Auto model & ResMed S8 Elite II. Liked both but respironics a bit more. What I like about Resmed is its software. Respironics Encore does not even allow reports over a range of dates in a detailed data view.

Was then suggested Resmed Auto25 by Resmed representatives. Tried it and the experience was horrible. But they explained that it had so many settings that it would need work to find out which are comfortable for me. Now, the machine settings have been tailored to me & seem to be quite comfortable to my breathing pattern. The mask, however still seems less comfortable than Respironics. They are changing that to find the most comfortable to me.

I went on the site because a friend was considering buying S9 & he said he did not find Auto25 in CPAP and that S9 was latest from Resmed and bound to be better than a discontinued one (he thought that....as it was not listed), so I went on the site.

Meanwhile, I find that on Resmed site (which I had not checked regarding Auto25 before trial), Auto25 is listed as Bilevel machine (Is this same as BiPAP?). I was not prescribed a BiPAP machine. My Doctor is quite far away & though I will be getting her opinion before finalizing, I would like to know what you guys think! I have found usage information here that I don't think even my Doctor is aware of Doctors seem to rely upon Device Representatives



Also, now that S9 is there.....what are the issues for me.....Respironics M series or Auto25?????? or S9 and pros & cons....I have read the reviews for S9....Budget is not an issue.....Request pointers, comments & nuggets of knowledge pl, so I can research further and come to a decision.

With regards and thanks to all.
Sanjay.

The ResMed Auto 25 is a bilevel machine, and you need a different prescription for it than for a CPAP or APAP. Respironics calls bilevel BiPAP while ResMed calls it VPAP.

The latest APAP from Respironics is the System One Auto, and from ResMed is the S9 AutoSet. These are the machines that you should be considering. I have no experience with either so I'll leave comments about them to others.

I think if you like the Auto 25 (which is what I have, but I don't run it in Bilevel mode.), you will like the S9. It is a much more advanced machine, but features the Auto 25's 'easybreathe' technology. The data features of the S9 series are better than any of the previous ResMed products.

You don't need to change masks when you change machines, which it sounds like what you are doing. Find a mask that works well for you, and stick with it.

Thanks Guys

Will check the Respironics System One Auto.

Regarding S9, the Resmed sales guy said that it does not contain the Auto25's Trigger & Cycle settings, which really increase comfort...for me both are set on their lowest....can someone please comment on this? What is the difference between these settings & easy breathe feature of S9?

Regarding masks, Is it OK to use a Respironics mask one likes with a Resmed machine? The sales guys from both companies discourage that, saying that readings for software will be effected....the machine knows intelligently about masks & thats why mask type needs to be set in the machine! Is this only sales mumbo-jumbo? without any technical basis?

@timbalionguy: where exactly do you change from & to bilevel mode in Auto25? I can't find it in menu! I have the machine on trial right now & had stopped using it once I knew it was bilevel, as I was not prescribed that. But if it can be operated both ways...I'd like to try before deciding.

With regards and thanks.
Sanjay.

Okay. I have the Resmed VPAP Auto, the six month earlier predecessor of the VPAP Auto 25. The VPAP Auto and VPAP Auto 25 can be run in CPAP mode, Spontaneous (straight bi-level) mode and VAuto (auto bi-level) mode. It is a bi-level and would require a bi-level script.

NO WAY would I even for a second consider a Respironics M Series!! They are no longer being manufactured and they were NOT one of Respironics' best series of PAPs. Their earlier Legacy series were MUCH THE BETTER devices. As are their newest PR SystemOne series.

The Resmed Reps were correct about the various "comfort" settings such as Rise Time, Triggering and Cycling affecting the comfort in Spontaneous (straight bi-level)mode w/the VPAP Auto 25. I ran into too abrupt pressure transistion between IPAP and EPAP in Spontaneous mode. Rather than diddling around find the comfortable settings I just run my VPAP Auto in VAuto mode w/the Pressure Support set the exact distance between IPAP and EPAP, which means it is running as a straight bi-level in auto mode AND allows the EasyBreathe technology to do its thing. The EasyBreathe technology in VPAP Auto and VPAP Auto 25 is only available in VAuto mode. W/the S9s I assume the EasyBreathe technology is effective thruout the various modes.

Resmed just released their S9s a short time ago, earlier this year. They've only released the S9 Elite and the S9 Auto but hadn't released an S9 bi-level yet. My Resmed Rep did say that they would have an S9 bi-level out before the end of the year.

My favorite mask is neither a Resmed nor a Respironics mask. It is the ProBasics Zzz-Mask full face mask and I've used it w/both my Resmed VPAP Auto AND w/the PR S1 BPAP Auto I'm currently using. PAP users use masks by multiple manufacturers w/PAPs by different manufacturers all the time. Given the difficulties in finding THE right mask for each individual the manufacturers would be absolute fools to design their PAPs to only work well w/just their masks.

Check your PMs.