Royal Philips Electronics today showcased the next generation Philips Respironics Sleep Therapy System at Medtrade 2009, a conference and expo for the home medical equipment industry.
The arrival of the new product line brings advances in sleep apnea therapy, the manufacturer says, that will benefit millions of sleep apnea sufferers, as well as bring new solutions to healthcare providers trying to meet today’s healthcare challenges.
Those who experience this potentially life-threatening condition stop breathing repeatedly during sleep due to an obstruction in the upper airway or when the brain fails to send signals for respiration.
Back in 1985, Philips Respironics commercialized continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and, shortly afterward, developed bi-level airway pressure technology for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The first line effective treatment works by delivering a gentle flow of pressurized air through a mask to keep the airway open. The new Philips Respironics Sleep Therapy System combines 25 years of experience with state-of-the-art technology and new-to-market features that optimize comfort, care, and efficacy of therapy in patients. The system also provides new levels of control, compliance and efficiency to help healthcare professionals improve patient outcomes, grow their businesses and better manage their operating costs.
“Our new system is proof positive of our vision of working together with our provider customers to transform the home healthcare market to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s promise of improved care,” says Donald Spence, CEO of Philips Home Healthcare Solutions.
“In designing the new system, we took a smarter approach to the entire sleep management process and married our clinically–proven technologies together in one rigorously engineered device to better support patient care. It is our most sophisticated offering to date, and it comes at a time when patient compliance matters most,” Spence added.
The new system provides a range of therapy options for mild to severe sleep apnea patients and helps providers recognize changing patient conditions that may require different treatment. With new advanced event detection software and expanded reporting capabilities, Philips Respironics Sleep Therapy System has the ability to recognize and report when a patient may be experiencing symptoms beyond OSA.
A sophisticated three-layer algorithm distinguishes between obstructed and clear airway apneas and periodic breathing, such as Cheyne-Stokes Respiration. Medical professionals now have easy access to sleep assessment parameters typically found on diagnostic equipment.
These respiratory events can be verified by looking at detailed patient flow waveform data. There are multiple options for data transfer, including standard SD cards and new wireless and wired modem connections. The devices now include on-board memory storage for six months of compliance data (7– and 30–day averages) and five days of patient flow waveforms.
Philips Respironics Encore data management systems have been enhanced. The Web-based platform of EncoreAnywhere makes it quick and simple to obtain timely, accurate patient information and instantly change prescriptions or communicate from a secure-access Web site.
Updates to the device are automatic, and summary and daily detail reports of therapy data — including patient flow and event reports — are arranged by time frame.
The “Best 30” reports the best 30 consecutive days of greater than four-hour sessions. This information enables the provider to intervene more quickly and more effectively and instantly capture patient compliance data needed for reimbursement.
Adding to its contemporary design, lighted LEDs and a new LCD dial and push-button interface make the device simple to use and operate. About the size of a clock radio (7" L x 5.5" W x 4" H), components are built in to maximize patient comfort and device performance. The device is engineered with new Dry Box technology and a cleverly designed water chamber to keep water only where needed, while delivering consistent humidification.
A technology breakthrough, System One Humidity Control, adjusts automatically for changes in room temperature and room humidity. Like cruise control in automobiles, patients select the desired humidity level in the mask, and advanced sensors gather the data required by the device to maintain these levels to enhance comfort and prevent rainout in changing environmental conditions.
Another major comfort enhancement, System One Resistance Control, adjusts pressure delivery to optimize comfort with every Philips Respironics mask. Beyond leak reporting, the device is set up to compensate for resistance characteristics caused by the various mask options available and operate as an integrated system.
Philips Respironics Flex Family of pressure relief technologies continues to evolve to meet patient and professional needs. The new device features an on-board Flex Demo mode to allow patients to experience the comfort of proven Flex technology firsthand. With Flex, an advanced Digital Auto-Trak algorithm detects the onset of inspiration and expiration to deliver the right amount of pressure relief and emulate natural breathing.
Clinical studies show patients on Flex use their therapy on average more than four hours per night when using traditional CPAP.1 The newest enhancement, C-Flex+, is designed for advanced units when in fixed CPAP mode. It provides relief at the beginning of exhalation and softens the pressure transition from inhalation to exhalation. Philips Respironics backs the performance with the Flex Promise Program.
The new Philips Respironics’ CPAP and BiPAP devices include basic, compliance, and auto-adjusting models. Accessories include power supply, carrying case, power cord, filter kit, and integrated humidifier. The devices come with a two-year, replace-with-new warranty, and are backed by Philips Respironics’ renowned service and support programs.
References
- Aloia, M.S., et al., Chest 2005:127:2085-2093
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