Devibiss Intellipap Auto Adjust Travel CPAP Machine

Anybody in this forum is using this machine? Any pros and cons?
My mum's doctor recommends an auto CPAP. I'm thinking either S9 autoset CPAP machine or this machine. Compared to the price, Devibiss is only half the price. Since I have to pay out of pocket (my mum does not have insurance), the price is the important factor to consider. But if S9 is way better than Devibiss Intellipap auto adjust, I would rather buy S9. If Devibiss is okay to use and most of people do not feel uncomfortable with it, I'll probably go with it.
Any suggestions/recommendations are welcome!

Yep. Love it. Half the cost of my Resmed S9 Autoset, and were it not for the Resmed's superior data capability (ResScan), it would have been my primary machine. Since it's for your Mum, she might not want or be able to get into the data reporting. If that is the case, I'd recommend the Intellipap with no reservations.

It IS important, though, that it be set up correctly. The inspiration and expiration curve softening should be set to the maximum (5). Your DME can do that if you specifically request it, or we here on the forum can walk you through the procedure.

Slartybartfast, what is the purpose of data reporting? to monitor my mum's breath and pressure during her sleep? Sorry for the silly question. I know I may search the answer online, but just want to get the shortcut. You can post me the link, so you do not need to type the answers.

You won't be disappointed with a DeVilbiss Intellipap Auto Adjust with Smart Flex! I've had mine since last August and love it.

1. Longest warranty in the industry - 3 yrs.
2. Software is readily available for purchase***
3. Smart Codes to use for those w/o software -- these are plugged into a web tool
4. 2nd quietest machine on the market
5. Small footprint as the humidifier is integrated and sits below the cpap; not next to it.
6. Comes with a superb carry case for travel
7. Changing the settings is very easy
8. Made in the US by a company that has been around for 120+ yrs.
9. We are lucky to have a DeVilbiss rep as a forum member who is very helpful to us!

***Software is important for monitoring the therapy overnight.... you will be able to detect when leaks occur and to what degree, see pressure changes, and make adjustments as needed to improve therapy.

If you decide to purchase this machine, and you need the clinician's manual, just PM me with your email address and I can email you a pdf copy.

Oh my, you ARE new! Fair question. Besides delivering filtered, humidified air at sufficient pressure to keep your Mum's airway open, a few of the better machines (the Intellipap is among them) also record how much air is delivered, at what pressure, as well as indicating any breathing abnormalities that the CPAP user exhibited. A doctor or a respiratory therapist (or you or I) can access that data and gain a better understanding of how the machine is performing. For instance, if your Mum has been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and the lab has determined that she requires a pressure of, for example, 10 cm H2O (those are the units of pressure) in order to keep her airway open, then, when you/your doctor/resp. therapist access the data, they can see whether that pressure is doing what it's supposed to do. And if it isn't, then the pressure can be adjusted. For the user, or the user's caregiver, the difference is sort of like that between sitting in an aisle seat vs. a window seat on an airplane. If you sit on the aisle seat, you can't see where you're going; you just have to trust that the pilots are doing their job correctly. But if you're sitting in a window seat, you can see outside and have a better idea of what's going on around you.

Here's an excellent link that shows the data that is available from the Resmed data-capable machines, which the S9 Autoset is: http://www.osahelp.com/ See section 6, Examining Sleep Data.

Here's another excellent link from DeVilbiss that talks in detail about the capabilities of their machine http://www.devilbisshealthcare.com/file ... T-2089.pdf

And, of course,t here are some great links at the top of the forum page that should be worth a good read.

Hope that helps.

I have the DeVilbiss Intellipap Auto Adjust Travel CPAP Machine and think a lot of it (only one I've ever had). I for one cannot think of any data I'd be interested in that this machine won't produce, it's very quiet and has a three-year warranty. In fact, once I settled in on a mask that works well for me, I don't need the data every day. I just sent my sleep doc a 90 day report on my progress using the Smart Code report (PDF via email). From it he can tell everything about my treatment except my blood pressure. Fortunately, mine showed betterment each month, the last 7 days and last night (0.5 AHI). Incidentally, the graphs were in color.

From the prices I've seen the S9 auto would cost more than double what the DeVilbiss does - but for what??? JMO

Jim

And, as long as we're all in violent agreement about the merits of the Intellipap, if you look on the CPAP.com website (our forum sponsor) and look at the top three auto-adjusting CPAP machines, you'll find they report their relative sales percentages by make and model thus:

DeVilbiss Intellipap 43%
PR System One 21%
Resmed S9 Autoset 20%

All three are fuly data capable auto-adjusting machines with similar capabilities. What does that tell you?

Thanks for all your input. I appreciate it! You guys build my confidence in buying the Devibiss.

Besides the machine itself, I also need to buy "IntelliPAP Integrated Heated Humidifier" and mask. What else I need to buy? any suggestion?

Also there are different types of the mask with different brands, will they all fit into Devibiss machine?

The hoses used on all the common CPAP machines are interchangeable, as are the masks. The integrated heated humidifier is a must-have for most of us. I was a little disappointed with the stiffness of the hose that came with my Intellipap last February, so I substituted an extra Resmed Slimline hose that came with my Resmed S9 Autoset. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... ubing.html I've heard that DeVilbiss is aware of the stiff hose issue, so maybe they've addressed that. But if you have to buy one, I don't know it's worth the money this early in the game. And another thing you really ought to get is a hose snuggie https://www.cpap.com/productpage/snuggl ... cover.html available from here or at http://www.padacheek.com. Either that or make one yourself out of flannel. The feel of a synthetic hose creeped me out until I bought the snuggie. Felt like a snake was crawling on me.

Now, regarding masks, that's a highly individual subject, and one that is going to take some trial and fitting. If you don't have a sleep lab or DME (Durable Medical Equipment supplier) that you can go to to test-fit then I don't really know how to advise you. Perhaps someone else can pick it up from there. Has your mum had an actual titration study? If so, they should have fitted her with a mask that would be a good place to start.

Thanks for the valuation info.

My mum had a sleep study back in China. But the Titration report does not say the type of mask she used at that time. All she can tell is that the mask covered her nose and mouth and she feels comfortable. I think it is a full face mask. But there are different types full face masks. Is it too risky to just buy one type of full face mask online without trying it on?

I just contacted some local DMEs. One DME has a 30 day return policy for the mask. but they charge higher price than the online. If all the full face masks are similar, then I'll just buy it online. Otherwise, I'll have the local DME to come to my home.

Slartybartfast:

Thanks so much for your helpful comments, and for your patience with us newbies. One thing I'm not clear on: You say that Intellipap gathers a lot of data, too. What data-collection features did you need that S9 offers but Intellipap doesn't?

And why do you have an S9 AND an Intellipap? Is the Intellipap for travel? Is the S9 unsuitable for travel?

Thanks again!

Guest wrote:Slartybartfast:

[snip] One thing I'm not clear on: You say that Intellipap gathers a lot of data, too. What data-collection features did you need that S9 offers but Intellipap doesn't?

And why do you have an S9 AND an Intellipap? Is the Intellipap for travel? Is the S9 unsuitable for travel?

Thanks again!

I should have been more clear. Regarding your first question, the answer is none at all. The S9 Autoset is the gold standard so far as data collection and presentation goes. I don't think very many people would say otherwise. However, that level of data collection comes at a price, which you pay for when you buy the machine. If you're looking for a machine that functions every bit as well as the S9 Autoset, but for which the data capabilities aren't paramount, then the Intellipap is for you. The software for the Intellipap isn't as sophisticated as is that for the S9 Autoset, and that's its only shortcoming. But for determining how well your machine is doing what the doctor wanted it to do, it's perfectly adequate, and it's smaller, less expensive, and has a better warranty, as well as all the advantages our resident Intellipap expert, Emilia with the gorgeous cat, listed.

I have two machines. My first machine was the S9 Autoset that I got last September. I was/am perfectly happy with it. However, my wife lives in Washington state, so I travel back and forth a lot, and I got tired of lugging the S9 on a plane. I figured sooner or later it might get damaged in one of the overhead compartments where people aren't too careful how hard they shove their oversized luggage in order to get the door closed. So in February, I figured I'd get another machine to leave at the wife's place. Since I already had an S9 Autoset, I didn't want another one since my visits are generally for a week or less, and I had heard nothing but good things about the Intellipap, so I bought one from CPAP.com and had it shipped there.

Now, when I fly North, and it's time to hit the hay, I strap on my mask, turn out the light and I truly can't tell whether I'm hooked to my S9 Autoset, or the Intellipap. I don't have the data collection package for the Intellipap; I use the SmartCodes it gives me the next morning and plug them into the DeVilbiss website to get my data whenever I want to see it. Sure, I can't see the full waveform of every breath I take, but frankly, that's really more information than any of us needs. Sure, it's nice to have, but you have to ask yourself whether it's worth an extra $500 to have it.

If you're buying just one machine, and you are a little bit of a geek (technically inclined) and enjoy looking at data, and money isn't really tight, then perhaps the S9 Autoset is what you'd be happiest with. But if you want to save $500 and have a machine that functions just as well as the S9, and you are not fixated on having doctor's office quality data available, then I'd recommend the Intellipap. And if you need a travel-only machine and you already have an S9, I'd say you were nuts to buy another one.

shirleyAPAP wrote:Thanks for the valuation info.

My mum had a sleep study back in China. But the Titration report does not say the type of mask she used at that time. All she can tell is that the mask covered her nose and mouth and she feels comfortable. I think it is a full face mask. But there are different types full face masks. Is it too risky to just buy one type of full face mask online without trying it on?

I just contacted some local DMEs. One DME has a 30 day return policy for the mask. but they charge higher price than the online. If all the full face masks are similar, then I'll just buy it online. Otherwise, I'll have the local DME to come to my home.

Take a look at the full face masks on CPAP.com https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks/full-face-cpap-mask.php. Masks appear to be listed in order of sales popularity. The most popular masks will be at the top of the list. Maybe you can show your mum some of the pics and see if she recognizes any of them. I don't know whether China is making their own masks; they might be importing them from overseas at present. A coworker heard my story and got her father in Thailand a CPAP machine. She said they import their equipment and masks from Australia. Then again, China might have a domestic medical device market that I'm not aware of.

Choosing a mask is probably the most difficult part of CPAP therapy. All the machines do the same thing. The mask, however, is a very individual choice. Some people have good luck and are still using the same mask they used for their initial sleep study (I'm one of those), while other people buy several expensive masks and complain on the forum that nothing seems to fit them. So other than that, I don't know how to advise you.

Another thing to consider: masks are made to fit the "average" face in the population that the manufacturer sells to. The contours of an Asian face aren't the same as a Caucasian face. I work in a laboratory, and many of my Asian coworkers simply can't get common items like safety glasses to stay on their noses, or chemical respirator masks to seal properly. And I suppose were I to move to China, I'd have problems, too. I only say that because if there is an Asian manufacturer of CPAP masks and they sell to the Asian market, then perhaps it might be worth looking to them for your Mum's mask.

If you're going to be buying through cpap dot com... call them and ask about a Full face mask that would fit an asian face.

They should also have measuring templates in order to determine what size to get (or know where to find them).

When your ready to purchaser make sure the price includes the machine and the humidifier. Some online stores try to charge for each piece separately. Make sure that it has smart flex.