Is the ResMed Airsense 11 Humidifier issue fixed / workarounds okay?

I tried a search and couldn't readily find this info, if I missed a good thread just point me there.

Long time CPAP user, currently have ResMed Airsense 10 past service life and having weird problems. I'd like to get a new machine because I'm afraid this one could die any day. I had my periodic sleep study and my DME is itching to order one for me.

But has the AirSense 11 humidifier issue been fixed? If not, are there "adequate" known workarounds? I live at 7200 feet altitude and in a very dry climate so it's got to work, and all night.

I worked in the medical device world for years but my experience with getting info directly out of ResMed wasn't fruitful. I could try some other avenues but thought I'd check here first.

Thank you.

What issue are you talking about?

I think I saw this thread earlier in the year (and the post is from last year), then did some Googling and I thought there was a known design issue with it. Which would of course take some time to fix and release to the field.

But I was under a lot of stress at the time and may have catastrophized the information and it stuck in my head, when it's actually not a real thing.

viewtopic/t182870/Resmed-Airsense-11-Hu ... rking.html

In any case thank you for your response.

Me neither.
Maybe you are thinking about another brand--respironics, more than likely.
I will not say Resmed makes no mistakes--but they are few and far between.

mreewh wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 15, 2022 3:02 pm

But I was under a lot of stress at the time and may have catastrophized the information and it stuck in my head, when it's actually not a real thing.

mreewh wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 15, 2022 2:34 pm

I tried a search and couldn't readily find this info, if I missed a good thread just point me there.

If it was a real issue, you'd have found more threads like that - and even on the thread you linked to, many posters were one time poster with one post.

That said, Airsense 10 machines are still being sold - in some countries you can't even get an Airsense 11 yet. Some models of the AS11 line don't even exist yet -- e.g. a bi-level, an ASV. Furthermore, I seem to remember reading or hearing that the mechanical parts are identical - so it's not as though buying an AS10 is buying an "end of the line" piece of equipment.
For the AS10, ResMed added a "for her" algorithm, and created a "For her" look for the machines that have both algorithms.
When movig to the AS11, they put both algorithms in one black box -- no "for her" box any more, nor do the have an AS11 without the "for her" algorithm.

All this is to say that if you're worried, you could buy a new AS10 like the one you have, and live happily with it for the next 5 years.

> All this is to say that if you're worried, you could buy a new AS10 like the one you have, and live happily with it for the next 5 years.

Yes, I've considered it, but my DME is no longer providing AS 10s so it would be a hassle, and I'd really prefer not to live with the older technology (albeit not much has changed) for yet another 5 years.

And I do have an issue with the AS10, where it gets wonky sometimes and sets to a specific pressure and doesn't adjust, and also doesn't record data during that time. I've worked with an engineer at ResMed to try to determine the failure mode and we couldn't figure it out. It seems to be something that only occurs at high altitude + something about the mask or hose. Who knows if it was addressed with the AS11 either though.

Thanks for your reply.

mreewh wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 16, 2022 1:03 am

> All this is to say that if you're worried, you could buy a new AS10 like the one you have, and live happily with it for the next 5 years.

Yes, I've considered it, but my DME is no longer providing AS 10s so it would be a hassle, and I'd really prefer not to live with the older technology (albeit not much has changed) for yet another 5 years.

The "older technology" WORKS. The "newer technology" doesn't give you anything except incompatible hoses.

I'm still happy with my S9 machine, though I have a AirCurve 10 VAuto too.

The only Airsense 11 humidifier design issue, is that if you fill the tank to capacity, the level is at the very top of the tank, and it’s easy to spill if you’re not careful. The capacity is 380ml, but I fill to 12oz, or 355ml. That way there is some space at the top of the tank.

On a side note, the Airsense 11 tanks have not been prone to leaks. Some Airsense 10 users did have that issue, myself included.

> On a side note, the Airsense 11 tanks have not been prone to leaks. Some Airsense 10 users did have that issue, myself included.

Good to know. I've had some issues with inconsistent humidification which seemed related to the seal closure.

mreewh wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 18, 2022 3:11 pm

> On a side note, the Airsense 11 tanks have not been prone to leaks. Some Airsense 10 users did have that issue, myself included.

Good to know. I've had some issues with inconsistent humidification which seemed related to the seal closure.

...There are more tank issues on the AS10 because it has been out for 7 years. The AS11 has been out for 1.

LSAT wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 18, 2022 6:09 pm

mreewh wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 18, 2022 3:11 pm

> On a side note, the Airsense 11 tanks have not been prone to leaks. Some Airsense 10 users did have that issue, myself included.

Good to know. I've had some issues with inconsistent humidification which seemed related to the seal closure.

...There are more tank issues on the AS10 because it has been out for 7 years. The AS11 has been out for 1.

That, and also the design with the seam at the bottom. For some users the two pieces expand at different rates, and the seal fails.
I am not suggesting it happens to most users, but an online search will bring back multiple results including a "fix" by re-sealing that edge with food grade silicone.
I resealed several with spotty results. My unit may have had a unique issue, but I went through many tanks that lasted no more than a couple of weeks in the last year of use. This was not a problem early on for me.

jsmit86 wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 18, 2022 7:07 pm

LSAT wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 18, 2022 6:09 pm

mreewh wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 18, 2022 3:11 pm

> On a side note, the Airsense 11 tanks have not been prone to leaks. Some Airsense 10 users did have that issue, myself included.

Good to know. I've had some issues with inconsistent humidification which seemed related to the seal closure.

...There are more tank issues on the AS10 because it has been out for 7 years. The AS11 has been out for 1.

That, and also the design with the seam at the bottom. For some users the two pieces expand at different rates, and the seal fails.
I am not suggesting it happens to most users, but an online search will bring back multiple results including a "fix" by re-sealing that edge with food grade silicone.
I resealed several with spotty results. My unit may have had a unique issue, but I went through many tanks that lasted no more than a couple of weeks in the last year of use. This was not a problem early on for me.

This is interesting. I have the AS 11 going on 5m and thankfully-knocks wood- no problems yet.

Forgive me if I misunderstood but are you saying that you had those issues with your AS11 or an earlier model?

No sir. My humidifier issues were on the Airsense 10, and only the last year and a half or so.
Overall it was a great machine. So far the Airsense 11 has been excellent. I've only had it a bit over 2 months.

jsmit86 wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 18, 2022 8:27 pm

No sir. My humidifier issues were on the Airsense 10, and only the last year and a half or so.
Overall it was a great machine. So far the Airsense 11 has been excellent. I've only had it a bit over 2 months.

Thanks.

(I prefer “miss” but occasionally get “ma’am”ed).

Could anyone elaborate on the high altitude issue? I recently moved from Louisiana to Colorado, and now it feels like I don't get enough air from my AirCurve 10. Some nights it's from the moment I turn the machine on, some nights it give ok pressure for about 30 seconds to a minute. Do I need to have it recalibrated?