Wireless Internet link to cpap machines !!!

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 3:57 pm

While look through a web page (at Resmed) provided by Slinky, I came across this apparently new xPAP connection device ...

http://www.resmed.com/en-us/products/cl ... u=products

It is called Restraxx

There is one for the S7 shaped models & one for the S8 models. This could explain why some places are now selling ResLinks so inexpensively.

The clinical brochure provides some more info ...

http://www.resmed.com/en-us/products/cl ... nglish.pdf

The way it seems to work is that it uses a cellphone wireless link to connect to the Internet and sends the data from the patient's machine to http://www.restraxxonline.com & participating clinicians can log in and access their patients data online & I presume in real time (while the patient is sleeping).
But it is not fully clear if the Restraxx unit sends data in realtime or does a daily dump. Common sense says it is in realtime because the technology can do it and also if it only did a daily dump, the patient may turn power off before the daily download can occur.

My bet is the clinician may also be able to change the settings in real time & online.

Hmmmm, so the future is already with - xPAPers wired to the net !.

DSM

JimW · Post by **JimW** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:36 pm

You've been a bad patient, messing with that software and such; just so you learn a lesson, we're going to raise your pressure 5 cm in the middle of the night...

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:38 pm

...AND we're going to short-circuit your Aussie Heated Hose so it gives you a nice FULL FACE ZAP on a random schedule...

LOL,
B.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:51 pm

Giggle. You'd almost think they weren't taking you seriously, DSM!!!

It'll be interesting to see the price on this ResTraxx baby. The device itself might not cost too much since the sleep lab would supposedly be providing one to each patient ... I doubt insurance is going to pay for each patient to have one w/their machine.

So WHERE is the money to be made??? I assume the money is to be made by the charges to the "clinician" (sleep lab) for access to the restraxxonline website data.

Can you find any further info on it, DSM? I didn't see or missed the bit about a cell phone. It wouldn't work in our neck of the woods. NOBODY gets even decent cell phone service in our rural area. We have to drive about 2 miles north before we start getting decent reception. I forget how many miles west or south before reception is possible again. To the east we can't go due to a restricted nature preserve. We are in a cell phone no man's land regardless which cell phone service we utilize.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:30 pm

are you sure this is not a wireless fire or smoke alarm??

We know they have lots of investor money to waste on research, but what makes them think this idea will fly?

History has shown, Doctors, insurance and patients won't pay $50 bucks towards a simple dial-up computer modem much less a "cellular" wifi device to transmit compliance data. As a patient, if I am not getting any sleep details from my machine in the form of reports, why would I care if my doctor gets compliance data.

Cellular in he US costs about $40 bucks a month on avg. per line weather you use it or not.

What makes Resmed think a patient is not only going to pay probably $1,000+ extra for this device then make monthly payments of $40 per month for cellular service when they will most like never get to see any of the data if Resmed has anything to do with it.

Dumb idea if you ask me, proof will be in the pudding over time, it should show how many flock to it to waste their money on it.

Had they put a simple SD card slot in the machine, you can insert a SD WIFI card in it and connect to nearly any available WIFI connection, then take advantage of what's already in place.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:33 pm

LOL - I guess they can now activate flame retardant remotely - like air bags in cars

But on a more serious line ...

I have no doubt that some folk will naturally oppose the notion that their sleep data is floating over the Internet.

I remember only too well how alarmed a group of lady friends of my wife were back in 1996 at having their quilting work put up in web pages on the Internet. Some opposed it as they were sure they would become victims of cyberstalkers (this is back in 1996).

But it is natural to be concerned.

Am betting the data is encrypted - for 2 reasons 1) to assure customers & 2) to prevent any competitors and users from getting at it

Also you can bet Resmed will make it a requirement that to participate, they (Resmed) will have unrestricted access to the data 'for research purposes'. It is powerful info esp if it is real-time (watched while you sleep & it beeps)

Resmed still seem to be offering software & download cables & that meets we plebs needs - so still have our own way of accessing the data.

This concept of being wired to the Internet certainly opens up interesting lines of thinking.

DSM

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DeltaSeeker · Post by **DeltaSeeker** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:38 pm

I agree with Snoredog. Who's going to pay extra on their cell service for reports they can't access. And if the ability is there to change the pressure over the connection, forget it! There's no way I'll get any of these machines. I'll just have to stock up on the old-fashioned ones! When will they figure out that the patient not only should, but needs this information for their proper treatment and compliance.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:08 pm

DeltaSeeker wrote:I agree with Snoredog. Who's going to pay extra on their cell service for reports they can't access. And if the ability is there to change the pressure over the connection, forget it! There's no way I'll get any of these machines. I'll just have to stock up on the old-fashioned ones! When will they figure out that the patient not only should, but needs this information for their proper treatment and compliance.

I agree re who wants to pay extra. Maybe there is a plan to get it covered by insurance ?

Also if you don't want anyone to alter you machine remotely, one easy approach is to not have a Restraxx module attached

DSM

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:15 pm

I could see where maybe a bluetooth transmitter installed in the machine would be cool. If you could connect it to your computer and download the data.

but when it comes to these machines, cables, modems, computers, installing software is a headache especially for doctors. You can take your SmartCard in now and they most likely will never look at the reports, they have even done polls on it here.

if the doctors would want to see that data, it would be with the compromised patient, many of those may be elderly who may or may not be comfortable working with computers. For those it would be easier to just call them tell them push this button then this one and tell me what it says.

ddpelp · Post by **ddpelp** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:15 pm

snoredog is right who wants to buy this joke. and who wants their insurance to pay for it? I get a kick out of wanting the insurance company to pay for it.. Guess who pays the premiums etc
if anything as snoredog already said a cheap wifi device and it is on the internet free.. oh well R&D money must be burning a hole in their pocket

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:38 pm

I think WiFi or an Enternet port would make a lot of sense. This way the patient or the clinic could download data from the XPAP.

-James

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:57 pm

My guess is that other manufacturers will follow suit very quickly & I would guess with similar concepts. There are some powerful reasons to do so.

I do agree with the sentiment that manufacturers of xPAP gear really aren't too interested in what we plebs want.

So am not holding my breath that any will add bluetooth or WiFi, or WiMax or other user convenient addons. Sad but thats the way it looks.

I also imagine there may be some legal issue such as being sued, by some user, if they believed they had evidence that their data was being made public via an open wireless link.

Lots to think about.

DSM

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:06 pm

LOL...my worst nightmare...the thought of having an xpap machine I was using at home capable of being remotely controlled in any way by a "health care professional", much less prowled around in by resmed. rotfl!!!

A nightmare. Welp, glad I already have my dream machine. And happy to be the only one in control of it.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:26 pm

You got that right, RG!

my worst nightmare...the thought of having an xpap machine I was using at home capable of being remotely controlled in any way by a "health care professional"

christinequilts · Post by **christinequilts** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:46 pm

The Respironics Synchrony BiPAP had a built in modem option, so your BiPAP could 'phone home' every day. I don't know if any others ever implemented anything like that or not, but I sure was glad mine didn't have it. Bad enough being 'watched' while I sleep in a lab, I don't need big brother in my bedroom
...or my DME calling me up to tell me I stayed up to late (at cpaptalk?) last night

Mask

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