First, welcome to the forum.
Second, I'm real glad you've read Janknitz's blog about what you need to know before meeting the DME.
Finally, here's some additional information specifically about WHICH of the current machines from Resmed, Resprionics, and Fisher & Paykal are and are not full data machines. Before you SIGN any paper work, examine the machine itself and make sure it's one you are happy with. Accepting an only compliance data CPAP in hopes of soon upgrading to a full data machine is just setting yourself up for trouble.
Important Information About the Three Most Commonly Used Brands of CPAP/APAP Machines
For the three most common brands of xPAP equipment here's what you need to know about their most RECENT lines of machines:
- Full Efficacy Data Machines:
- Resmed: The S9 Elite CPAP with EPR and the S9 AutoSet CPAP
- Resprionics: The System One REMstar Pro CPAP with C-Flex Plus and the System One REMstar Auto CPAP with A-Flex
- Fisher & Paykel: The Icon Premo CPAP and the Icon Auto CPAP
- Only Compliance Data Machines:
- Resmed: The S9 Escape CPAP with EPR and the S9 Auto Escape CPAP
- Resprionics: The System One REMstar Plus CPAP with C-Flex and the System One REMstar DS150 CPAP
- Fisher & Paykel: The Icon Novo
Important Notes:
1)
It is best to hold out for a full efficacy data machine right from the start. As soon as you accept a brick that records only compliance data, you will have a mess on your hands if you later try to upgrade it to a full efficacy data machine. So if a DME contacts you (because the sleep doctor's office sent the script) and makes an appointment to set up the equipment and then shows up with a compliance-only brick of a CPAP, REFUSE delivery of the machine. Yes, they will tell you, "This is exactly what the doctor ordered." But YOU are paying for the machine (through your co-pay and your insurance company's money) and you are under NO obligation to "accept" a machine that you believe will be detrimental to your health in the long run. Politely inform them that you will only accept <fill in list of machines that you find acceptable> and that if they are unwilling or unable to provide you with such a machine, you will take your business to a different DME.
2) The naming of two of the Resprionics System One straight CPAPs is particularly confusing:
- The System One REMstar Pro CPAP with C-Flex Plus IS a full data machine, but
- The System One REMstar Plus CPAP with C-Flex IS NOT a full data machine.
3) Technically the Resmed Auto Escape is not quite a "only compliance data" machine because it does give a minimum amount of data beyond the number of hours used. But not enough additional data for it to be considered a full data machine. If the choice is between the S9 Elite and the S9 Auto Escape, you're better off with the Elite in my humble opinion.
4)
On-board Data: Each brand of machine has its own select set of data can be viewed directly off the machine's LCD. The Resmed S9 AutoSet and Elite have by far the best on-board LCD data of any of these machines since their LCDs will let you see all of the following: AHI, AI, CAI (from which you can easily compute OAI and HI); 95% Unintentional Leak rate; 95% Pressure Setting (AutoSet only); and hours used (of course). You can also easily change the reporting period from 1 day to 1 week to 1 month to 3 months and more. The on-board data for the Resprionics System One machines is limited to 7 and 30 averages for AHI (not broken down by type) and 7 and 30 averages for "Percentage time spent in Large Leak." That Large Leak data is useless in my humble opinion----in part because Resprionics leaves the definition of Large Leak undefined and in part because a Large Leak has to last an awfully long time to show up in a 7-day average (let alone a 30-day average). I've used both an S9 AutoSet and a System One BiPAP Auto so I know those machines really well and speak from direct experience. I am not directly experienced with the F&P Icons, but as near as I can tell (based on information in other apnea forums that I read), the on-board data for the Icon has the following data: 1, 7, and 30 day figures for AHI (but not broken down into type), leak rate, and the 90% pressure level and SenseAwake stats for the Icon Auto.
5)
Software: The S9 needs ResScan, which can be downloaded for free once you know where to find it. The System One needs Encore Viewer (which can be purchased for $100 from a variety of on-line cpap supply stores). The Icon uses InfoSmart, which appears to be aimed at clinics and sleep doctor offices. I have no information about how a user might find and install the InfoSmart software for their Icon machine.
6)
Data cards: The S9 and the System One both use standard SD cards for the data. The Icon uses a SmartStick.