Judy posted about the new PR System One Auto CPAP from Philips Respironics a few days ago, and I've been trying to dig up information to share with all of you since then. Today, I spoke to a very helpful and knowledgeable Respironics rep about the PR System One, and learned quite a bit about it. Here's what I found interesting:

- the machine's technology is sophisticated enough to detect when a central apnea is happening versus an obstructive apnea. it does this by building into its algorithm the delivery of a small "trial" burst of air down the airway and then measuring flow -- flow will be different in an open airway than in a closed airway. if there's an apnea in a closed airway, the machine knows its obstructive. if there's an apnea in an open airway, then the machine knows its central. Key point: this machine will not treat the centrals; it will merely identify and build the centrals and obstructive events into the data it collects and reports back

- the machine comes with a smart card (an SD card that is different from the standard Respironics smart card) that as far as I know is NOT compatible with the existing Encore Viewer software

- the DME can easily add a wired or wireless modem to the machine that will transmit the data to a clinician-friendly website (EncoreAnywhere website) and allow the clinical/medical team (sleep lab, physician, DME) to check compliance and efficacy data as well as make adjustments to the settings remotely, and to record their respective actions in a collaborative interface where everyone on the clinical team can see notes added to the patients record by any one clinician -- for instance if a DME's recent telephone conversation revealed something new about the patient, and the DME made a note of it, the sleep lab and physician would also be able to check in and read that new note

- the machine's built-in ambient room temperature and humidity detectors are designed to allow patients to use any humidification setting without experiencing "rain out"

- no improvements in efficacy data displayed to patient -- still patient only has ability to see 7-day and 30-day moving averages

- clinician can adjust settings through smart card, remotely via modem, or using "secret handshake" technique that is virtually identical to the "secret handshake" of the M Series boxes

- footprint larger than M Series

- it's at least as quiet as the ResMed S8, according to the rep. I believe the figure given was that it operated at the 20 decibel level, which is extremely quiet. He turned it on for me and admittedly, I could not hear a thing.

- that have a new "Dry Box" humidifier chamber that sits apart from, but which attaches to the side of, the flow generator. the separation between these two parts, and the design of the humidifier chamber, ensures that water cannot make its way into the machinery to gum up the works, as it often does when patients forget to remove the water from their humidifiers when they travel with the machine or bring it to their doctor's office.

- comes with a pretty and new carrying case

here's a shot of the front of the promotional material the rep was kind enough to give to me: