DeVilbiss Marketing asked in another support forum what we users would like in our ideal xPAP. Here's my wish list w/a couple of "borrowed" wishes from other members:
I like the PR S1 swivel hose attachment atop the humidifier. I like the Resmed S8's clear view of the humidifier water tank. I like being able to lift the humidifier water tank lid to let the condensation in the tank dry out and also the S8's continuing to run low for awhile to aid in drying out that condensation. I like the clear, easy to see fill markings on the humidifier tank. I like the easy access to and the amount of data available via the S8's well-lit LCD screen. I like EncorePro's Wave Form graphs. I like EncorePro's Daily Events Per Hour table. I like the "adjustable" graphs ResScan allows.
I don't like the PR S1's humidifier being so "secure". It seems it is an over-reaction to the M Series humidifier fiasco. I don't care for the "locked away" water tank on the humidifier. I don't like the limited "lift" to the humidifier lid. I detest the lack of a backlight for the LED screen. I DETEST the "power brick" of the S9s and the Respironics and PR PAPs. I DETEST the platform that Respironics has relied on in the past w/the Legacy and M Series'. I "might" appreciate the "comfort features" of the Resmed VPAPs "if" the sleep professionals I have to deal w/had the slightest idea of how to "use" them to improve my therapy comfort. If those features are too complicated for "the professionals" how does one expect patients to benefit from them?
I would hope that manufacturers would plan ahead for the day when patients will not only be "allowed", and not only "encouraged", but will be "expected" to take an active part in their PAP therapy just as has had to happen for diabetics. Since software must be developed to collect and report the data from PAP therapy I wouldn't expect for there to be too much extra expense in providing a patient version at a REASONABLE price. When we can find FDA recording oximeters AND software available in the $100 - $150 price range it doesn't seem unreasonable to hope for oximetry options w/our PAPs at a REASONABLE price. I'd like to see the Leak rates better reported, easier for the patient to determine. Rather than each manufacturer's list of masks for their machines and Mask Selection I'd prefer an option of selection based on "allowed vent rate". Patient's would then only have to check their mask literature to determine which Mask Selection to use.
As for "aesthetics" - not very important to me, seems kind of a shallow concern for a therapy device. Frankly I always thought the color combo on the S8s was rather attractive and the black of the Respironics Legacies and M Series rather unappealing. But first and foremost I want good therapy! Stacking is okay I guess but I would be some concerned about "tip-ability". The space the S8s and the PR S1's take up on my night stand I can live w/w/o concern of their tipping over. The taller something is the more likely it is to get accidentally "brushed" and tipped or knocked over.
Machine software upgradeable via a PC USB interface! And a well-padded travel case w/room for our mask as well
Accurate times on the graphs of the data. [Not the asinine 1, 2, 3, etc that Encore Viewer and Encore Pro use to demark the hours through the night].
On-board data that updates when the machine is turned OFF. The S9 has this; the System One updates the data at noon GMT and this silly fact cannot be changed by either the user or the DME.
A system clock the user can set. An option to change the "noon-to-noon" reporting window for the data so that folks who do shift work or night work can still easily look at their data for one sleep session as a whole instead of having it artificially split between two days just because they sleep across "noon".
No way for the DME or doctor's office to lock the user out of any of the features
No "compliance data only" machines at all.
I suppose its kind of stretching it a bit - but - you know what would be nice?? If there were some way a couple of EEG "leads" could be implanted in the headgear of our masks and reported to the data collection of our PAPs - but I suppose the necessary placement of leads to collect that data would NOT make for very comfortable mask headgear. *sigh*
What features would YOU want on YOUR ideal xPAP?
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