Here are all the CPAP machine and other CPAP products manufacturers I could find. If you have any others, let me know in the comments.
John Moehler has a PDF giving the Who, What, Why and When of CPAP. Since I’ve been told some people want to know what the indications for CPAP are in emergency medical situations, namely when you would need CPAP in an ambulance or other EMS action, and John says what you should look for:
The application of CPAP in emergency medical services is appropriate for the following:
– Pulmonary edema
– Near drowning
Each state or service many have different indications or approved clinical applications for CPAP.
Read the whole PDF if you’d like.
Just found out about this cool combo option: Apparently, you can get a Resmed S8 Compact CPAP Machine, one of the smallest CPAP machines out there, and a Resmed HumidAire 3i Heated Humidifier, and combine the two. When brought together, the two devices combine into a Voltron-like hybrid device, bringing CPAP and humidifier in a way god never intended.
But seriously, this is a pretty useful combination of two devices that are useful in the same place. My wife needs the humidifier to survive the winter months, and if I had a CPAP machine I could use this combo to fulfill both our needs. The S8 runs $725 and the Humidaire $260, so for just shy of $1000 this system works for me.
As an aside, a guy at my old job did a sleep study Monday night and found out he has sleep apnea. I consoled him, but was also able to use the knowledge I’ve recently acquired about CPAP and sleep apnea to reassure him that the doctors have lots of options for helping him. That felt nice.
Looks like one of our favorite CPAP retailers, CPAP Mart, has discounts on Remstar M Series CPAP machines. In their CPAP Specials section, they have the Respironics DS200H and Respironics DS200HS CPAP machines, both part of the REMstar Plus M Series and with C-Flex and Heated Humidifier, for below the manufacturer’s advertised price. The DS200H is less than $809 (they’ll email you the price), and the DS200HS (which adds a SmartCard) is less than $849. I love it when stores have mysterious secret pricing!
Royal Philips Electronics NV, the company that bought Respironics for $5.1 billion a few months ago, is looking for even more health care companies to buy and add to its multi-faceted healthcare conglomerate. According to Forbes, earlier this month they bought Dixtal Biomedica e Technologia, a Brazilian firm, for an undisclosed sum, and they haven’t finished swallowing other companies whole.
The acquisition of Respironics for such a large sum shows that Philips is dead serious and can afford most of the medium firms out there. Already owning Respironics means Philips probably doesn’t need another CPAP machine company, though if their Respironics unit is threatened by the likes of ProBasics, Resmed, Puritan Bennet, or AEIOMed, perhaps with a new type of CPAP machine or an innovative CPAP mask, Philips may have to buy them to protect its investment.
Take a look at this picture of the Swift II CPAP Mask Nasal Pillow, designed to be inserted in your nose as an accessory to Resmed’s Mirage Swift II series of CPAP Masks:
I don’t know about you, but something about that thing makes me want to run a caption contest. How about:
Worlds Worst Brass Knuckles
Or maybe they’re sort of an extension of those finger moustache tattoos you keep seeing? Think about it.
Anyway, if you’re wondering how it works, this image of a Resmed Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillows System complete with the pillow attached. Imagine yourself wearing this as a CPAP mask, and the unusual product begins to make sense:
I’ve noticed people looking around lately for nasal pillows, and had to see what they were talking about. Apparently, a nasal pillow is a part of a CPAP mask, or a feature in a CPAP mask, where the air is delivered directly into the nostrils, minimizing the amount of contact between the CPAP mask and the skin around the nose. These can take many forms, like little standalone things that look like ear plugs for your nose (often used by Puritan Bennet masks), or something that looks like a card with two mushrooms coming out of it (often used by Resmed CPAP masks)
U.S. News talked with doctors about the added risk to sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea during surgery. The same risks patients face during sleep can become even more risky during a medical procedure, for several reasons:
Those with mild sleep apnea don’t have much to worry about, but those who rely on a CPAP machine may need to go on one right after the surgery, in order to avoid complications. Make sure your doctor knows about your sleep apnea, and that he or she is properly prepared with a CPAP machine on hand, if necessary.
The American Sleep Apnea Association has a great article explaining how you can choose the right CPAP mask and headgear for your needs. They emphasize:
Styles, which are mostly a matter of preference, include the more traditional triangular CPAP masks, like this Optilife CPAP mask, or a slightly larger full-face variation for mouth-breathers. The headgear is important too, so remember to have a matching chin strap, and you can usually get it in the color of your choice.
There are many kinds of CPAP masks, and no one can agree which one is the best. Your CPAP mask will be a matter of personal preference. What brand/style do you prefer to use? Does the color matter?
Two CPAP Machines were donated to the Caledonia Area Ambulance Service (CAAS). The CPAP machines, which normally cost $600 apiece (CPAP machines at CPAP Mart can cost $595-$825 for Resmed CPAP machines and $670-$2180 for Respironics CPAP machines) were given to assist the paramedics in emergency situations, forcing air into the lungs when conventional CPR isn’t enough.
“The CPAP system increases the volume of oxygen forced into the lungs, opens up the capillaries, and dramatically improves breathing for a distressed patient,” Tornstrom continued. “With these units we can provide immediate medical treatment to a patient suffering from respiratory issues.”
The CAAS staff has undergone a four-hour training course on the use of the CPAP system, and has a unit in each of its two ambulances. With the portable oxygen tank the CAAS has, the CPAP units become portable and can be taken into homes, other buildings, and emergency situations.