Drivers/Firmware for Contec CMS50E

I have TWO Contec CMS50E's; one came from Contec directly in China and the other from an Oximeters Online place.

I opened and started using the one from Contec immediately; it reads Version 6.5 when it turns on and came with graphing software and drivers. Installed, hooked up with what appears to be a standard USB cable and works fine.

Just opened the second unit from Oximeters Online place and it would not be recognized by what was already installed on the laptop. I get a "drivers needed" message. So I pulled out the software disk from the box and tried to install. It said that my drivers were newer that were already installed and aborted. When turned on it reads Version .92EW

So here is my question. Is there someplace online where I can find updated firmware for the Contec CMS50E's and the latest drivers?

I managed to download data from both CMS50E's - one with a standard USB cable and the other with the cable that came with the second unit from Oximeters Online place.

I have a very strong urge to upgrade the firmware in each unit to the latest and to update the software on the laptop including the drivers so that I dont have to switch cables and monkey around all the time.

Suggestions from the learned?

I am now thinking that I might just dump these two units and go for two Bluetooth models if I cannot update the firmware, etc. One of my units appears to want a special USB cable provided and the other not. This is nuts.

OK GUYS AND GALS...........
Here is what I have discovered through scientific experimentation and internet googling:

(A) Regarding MY two units.
The CMS50E dates 2009-02 is my original unit and worked fine all along and still does. It works GREAT! It can be plugged in with a standard USB cable it appears although I do not know the source of the USB cable that I happen to be using. It appears to be standard and has NO special markings on it whatsoever. The software that I currently have installed is Version 0.982 rc1 although I could swear that I had Version 1.0 installed earlier today and overwrote it from an online download 'update'. NOT! As far as firmware updates are concerned this CMS50E comes and and says Version 6.5. Everything works like a charm.

The CMS50E dated 2009-05 is my spare unit and I decided to take it out of the box today to make sure it actually works. It came with a CD, power supply/charger, USB cable, tin can case in a cardboard box, etc. Plugged it into my laptop using the cable that I use on the other CMS50E and I get a report of 'NO DRIVERS FOUND'. Hmmm. That's when I installed the updated software and drivers and was told the existing drivers were newer than the ones that I was going to install and the install aborted. OK. So I dig the other cable out of the box and plug it in using the cable I just hauled out of its box. PRESTO! Works like a charm. Works GREAT!

CONCLUSION:
The CMS50E is actually a series of CMS-50E's and as we progress by date (no model number change) we find that we must use the cable that is provided with THAT particular CMS50E. They do not appear to be interchangeable.

OBSERVATIONS:
In googling CMS50E's from various suppliers and from Contec themselves, we note that there is a wireless kit that connects to your computer and to the fingerpiece CMS50E to permit wireless communications to your computer. We also notice that you are now able to buy the CMS50E with Bluetooth and read reports that the Bluetooth actually works quite some distance (like from upstairs to downstairs) so maybe you can leave your CMS50E by the bed and set it to download data to your laptop and be done with running back and forth. Dunno for sure but bluetooth instead of cables is a good thing although it is going to cost you a few more bucks. So, as of now I am ordering a couple of replacements with Bluetooth enabled and am going to sell off my two individual CMS50E's.

I would have really liked to find the latest in Contec SpO2 software and in CMS-50E drivers and firmware but, even though there is much talk about it, I have not been able to locate a download site for any of it.

QUESTION:

If anyone has updated software, drivers, firmware or can point me and the rest of the CMS50E users at it I would be grateful.


Thanks in advance.

I wish you luck with the drivers issue. I got mine and found the software wasn't compatible with my Win 2K computer. No surprise there, that's a dated operating system. Works fine on my XP machine at work.

The fact that incremental changes in the device aren't properly documented is surprising in a regulated medical device. However, the documentation that accompanied the unit is also poor, so why am I surprised?

On the other hand, it's a great little oximeter. My RN-wife played around with it and said she likes it better than the portable units they have at the hospital. Said it has more features and the ability to record data without snaking a cable around I.V. lines is a benefit.

RE: Bluetooth, since you have to charge it using the cable anyway, I don't really see any need for the wireless capability. Downloading data after an overnight run takes only 15 seconds or so. I got it mine in order to check that my CPAP is doing what it's supposed to be doing.

torontoCPAPguy wrote: The CMS50E is actually a series of CMS-50E's and as we progress by date (no model number change) we find that we must use the cable that is provided with THAT particular CMS50E. They do not appear to be interchangeable.

Apparently one of your CMS-50E's requires the built-in UART while the other doesn't. Go figure...
viewtopic/t55647/search.php?keywords=us ... t+oximeter

torontoCPAPguy wrote: If anyone has updated software, drivers, firmware or can point me and the rest of the CMS50E users at it I would be grateful.

This looks like the same non-bluetooth version you're currently running. Other readers might find the link useful, though:
http://www.semedicalsupply.com/catalog.htm

You know, you make a good point there about Bluetooth versus just plugging in the cable. But being a tekky nut one has to have the latest in technology, right? Now I have got to think this over a bit. Sic.

I have a brand new CMS50E that I just took out of the box to test today. That's how this all came up. My original CMS50E is an amazement to the nurses and doctors at rehab and I take it with me whenever I exercise to monitor my heart rate and SpO2.... they give you a heart rate Rx at rehab - not to be exceeded. It matches up with the $3,000 unit that they have there every time but appears it may be a wee bit more sensitive to bumping and outside light but not consistently... so they are impressed with it. And I am finding it the most useful tool in my arsenal here as even with perfection in AHI and other numbers, etc., I still have big dips in SpO2 likely during REM sleep and the associated awakenings by the autonomic nervous system hollering "wake up and breathe deeply". Truthfully, the arousals are not always fully awake but one can tell that the periods of desaturation are fairly short. It is only with my next sleep study and an EEG that I am going to be able to tie it all together.

One thing is for sure and that is that last night I titrated down to 3L/M of infused O2 amongst all that APAP air blowing and my SpO2 was still above 95% consistently with only one 'minor' desat which could have been a finger bang anomoly. I am going to cut back yet again tonight to see if I still retain 0.0 AHI and saturation around 95%. That's my goal and from that point I will continue to monitor the SpO2 but likely only every third night instead of nightly.

You cannot beat these CMS50E's for the money. For ANYONE that exercises they are gold.

I have two CMS 50f units and had the same problem. Each would only work with the software and USB cable that came with it. Was told that the Unit's with the black cables were not capable of using wireless and the units that used the grey cables were the upgraded version so the software was different also. If you have a black USB cable then that unit can be upgraded with a new board to wireless standards. I just bought a third unit and it's software says no device attached-More fun! They make nice unit's but their software people have a lot to learn. Good Luck

took a while, but try the website of this great shop:
google for pulseoxstore (cooper medical supplies), click on manuals or downloads.
sorry, guest may not post a link... maybe someone of the regulars may post a link.

also contains links to almost all other contec stuff..

the link on contecmed com website is broken... good to see someone actually keeps updates up there...

I have been using the CMS50E for two years now and it works great except for the rare case when the upload data has a bunch of lines in it.
I found that the same data will upload fine when the unit is fully charged.. FYI fellow CPAPers