Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andy on November 3, 2009 at 7:36pm

I've got the ResMed S8 AutoSet II. You can see it here: http://www.resmed.com/us/products/s8_autoset_ii/s8-autoset-ii.html?...

Mine came with an H4i heating humidifier which, once snapped onto the AutoSet II, works as one unit. Here's the page: http://www.resmed.com/us/products/h4i/h4i.html?nc=clinicians

I also got a ResTraxx wireless data device, which used the AT&T cellphone network to transmit data back to the DME. See it here: http://www.resmed.com/us/products/restraxx/restraxx.html?nc=clinicians

I'm told that the AutoSet II originally comes with a slot for a smart card, but that it's replaced by the ResTraxx. So, unless I get the original part back from the DME, I can't use the smart card, so I can't read the results data myself.

I'm happy with this unit. It's very quiet, and is convenient with the one-piece design.

Hope this helps!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Judy on November 3, 2009 at 10:29pm

The Resmed S8 AutoSet II w/EPR is the way to go. Ask your doctor to include "access to advanced/detailed patient data turned ON" (SmartData). That way YOU can check your nightly data yourself each day before noon w/o any risk of accidentally - or intentionally - changing your therapy settings.

The software and cable reader take some doing to find to buy. INsurances don't pay for it. Local DME providers can't sell it to you w/o a prescription from your doctor for it, some won't sell it to you even then, and those who will sell it to you w/a script will most likely "scalp" you w/the price they charge you for it.

HOWEVER, there is more than one way to skin a cat. Shop carefully online, call or e-mail the various online DME providers and shop for a decent price for the bundle - maybe even have to buy the software from one online provider and cable reader for another, depending on the pricing you find.

Meanwhile, just write your nightly data in a file every morning. You can't beat Resmeds for ease of access to and the amount of data available via the LCD screen!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andy on November 4, 2009 at 8:05am

Hi Judy,

What data is available on the LCD?

The only things I can see are Leak Rate, AHI, AI, HI, Used Hours, Usage (days), Usage (hours:minutes), and Run Hours.

Does the "access to advanced/detailed patient data turned ON" (SmartData) make more data available?

Is there software available to patients for this unit? I thought I'd read that it was not.

Thanks!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Renee on November 4, 2009 at 9:37am

Hello Judy,

I am glad to read what you’ve written here – it’s really helpful. But I’d like to clarify something about it for myself.

Does the S8 AutoSet II have to include “access to advanced/detailed patient data turned ON” in order to check one’s nightly data?

Or is “access to advanced/detailed patient data turned ON” needed only to use with the software and cable reader to send the info thru a phone line to the doctor?

And – can one get the efficacy data including: pressure, leak rate, apnea / hypopnea index via the LCD screen without having “access to . . .? Or is it that with the "access . . . " ones get more data than what appears on the LCD screen and that info is important / helpful to have?

Here's hoping this query is not too terrible confusing . . .

Thanks for all your communications on SG.

Best,
Renee

Judy said:

The Resmed S8 AutoSet II w/EPR is the way to go. Ask your doctor to include "access to advanced/detailed patient data turned ON" (SmartData). That way YOU can check your nightly data yourself each day before noon w/o any risk of accidentally - or intentionally - changing your therapy settings.

The software and cable reader take some doing to find to buy. INsurances don't pay for it. Local DME providers can't sell it to you w/o a prescription from your doctor for it, some won't sell it to you even then, and those who will sell it to you w/a script will most likely "scalp" you w/the price they charge you for it.

HOWEVER, there is more than one way to skin a cat. Shop carefully online, call or e-mail the various online DME providers and shop for a decent price for the bundle - maybe even have to buy the software from one online provider and cable reader for another, depending on the pricing you find.

Meanwhile, just write your nightly data in a file every morning. You can't beat Resmeds for ease of access to and the amount of data available via the LCD screen!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Judy on November 4, 2009 at 10:45am

In order to access the nightly data VIA THE LCD SCREEN, access to the advanced/detailed patient menu (SmartData) must be turned on. You can NOT accidentally - or intentionally - change your therapy sessions from the advanced/detailed patient menu.

Access to the advanced/detailed patient menu can ONLY be turned on in the Clinicians Menu. The same data can be accessed from the Clinicians Menu via the Results screen, BUT accessing the Clinicians Menu also allowed therapy settings to be changed - accidentally or intentionally.

While the software does provide more data, it is pretty much just the Median, 95th Percentile and Maximum rather than just the 95th percentile data you can access via the LCD. You don't need the software to access the LCD screen data.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by bonesigh on November 4, 2009 at 11:00am

Thanks to replies to this post so far. It is confusing...don't think I want the Res Traxx as I want to be able to look at my results via the computer at home. So, Andy's must be set to "On" then? Is having this info via the LCD enough? I read information that ResMed VPAP Malibu is Recognized as the Top Recommended BiPAP Machine. Should I try for this machine or is the recommendation of the Resmed S8 AutoSet II w/EPR good enough?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Renee on November 4, 2009 at 11:12am

Thanks Judy ~

OK, I understand. And, as you suggested, I am going to ask my doctor to include access to advanced/detailed patient data turned ON (SmartData). Very good.

Thank you,
Renee

Judy said:

In order to access the nightly data VIA THE LCD SCREEN, access to the advanced/detailed patient menu (SmartData) must be turned on. You can NOT accidentally - or intentionally - change your therapy sessions from the advanced/detailed patient menu.

Access to the advanced/detailed patient menu can ONLY be turned on in the Clinicians Menu. The same data can be accessed from the Clinicians Menu via the Results screen, BUT accessing the Clinicians Menu also allowed therapy settings to be changed - accidentally or intentionally.

While the software does provide more data, it is pretty much just the Median, 95th Percentile and Maximum rather than just the 95th percentile data you can access via the LCD. You don't need the software to access the LCD screen data.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Judy on November 4, 2009 at 11:25am

Eh, the Resmed VPAP Malibu is a bi-level auto. Entirely different than a CPAP or APAP. IF you have been scripted a bi-level then the Malibu is an excellent device, provides excellent data AND IS OUTDATED by the Resmed VPAP Auto and Resmed VPAP Auto 25. A CPAP script will NOT get you a bi-level. They are an entirely different "animal", and an entirely different insurance (HCPCS) code and must be specifically scripted as a bi-level. My understanding is that the Malibu's integrated humidifier will NOT work w/the S8s or the S8 IIs, meaning the Malibu's H2i integrated humidifier is NOT (to my knowledge) compatible w/the VPAP Auto or VPAP Auto 25 - nor w/the S8 AutoSet Vantage or S8 AutoSet II which are APAPS.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by bonesigh on November 4, 2009 at 11:41am

Sorry, yeah, I'm currently a bi-level patient. My doc just said she would order me an auto but I could pick which one. When you say "outdated" do you mean that the Resmed VPAP Auto and Resmed VPAP Auto 25 are newer?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Judy on November 4, 2009 at 12:33pm

Yup, the VPAP Auto which I have was released in January 2008 and the VPAP Auto 25 was released in July 2008. The Malibu is in an S7 body. Since the S7s there's been the S8 series and now the S8 II series. I LOVE the new EasyBreathe techonology. So smooth and easy breathing.

I run my VPAP Auto in Auto mode but w/pressure settings so that it runs like in straight bi-level mode, i.e. IPAP 12, EPAP 7, Pressure Support 5 (the difference between IPAP and EPAP). This seems to allow full advantage of the EasyBreathe technology.

The VPAP Auto is so darned sophisticated in Spontaneous mode that it can be difficult to find someone who understands how to set the options properly for your particular situation. I haven't tried running it in CPAP mode since I need bi-level therapy but it can also run in straight CPAP mode.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mary Z on November 4, 2009 at 12:57pm

The way I access the AHI, AI, Pressure and a few other numbers on my ResMed VPAP Auto 25 is by pressing the right and left arrow buttons simultaneously and holding them down a few seconds. That brings you to another menu you will want to explore, but the data you want is under "efficacy".

Good Luck, keep us posted,

Mary Zimlich

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Renee on November 4, 2009 at 1:11pm

Hello Mary ~

Always good to hear from you. Having read a posting by Judy, I am thinking of asking my doctor to include access to advanced/detailed patient data turned ON (SmartData) when ordering my ResMed S8 AutoSet II.

But I also thought I remembered that you had previously posted about pushing the right and left arrow buttons simultaneously and holding them down a few seconds as you mentioned here re: the ResMed VPAP Auto 25.

Do you know if that procedure will also work with the S8 AutoSet II to provide the efficacy data including: pressure, leak rate, apnea / hypopnea index?

Thanks for any thoughts you might have and all the contributions you make to the SG forum.

Best,
Renee

Mary Zimlich said:

The way I access the AHI, AI, Pressure and a few other numbers on my ResMed VPAP Auto 25 is by pressing the right and left arrow buttons simultaneously and holding them down a few seconds. That brings you to another menu you will want to explore, but the data you want is under "efficacy".

Good Luck, keep us posted,

Mary Zimlich

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page