CPAP product reviews and other helpful tips for CPAP users!
Don't Let Sleep Apnea Keep You From Traveling The World (Part 2)
If you read our previous blog on the AirMini™ then welcome to part 2 of that discussion! For those of you who didn't: in a nutshell, we highlighted the AirMini™ travel-specific unit and listed some of the accessories and add-ons we found to be the most impressive. The goal is to help savvy customers like yourself customized a travel unit to best fit your adventurous needs.
Next up on the list, (also the last) quickly became a bestseller in the travel category - the Dreamstation Go Auto CPAP. Continue reading to learn more on which accessories are worth buying and which ones to pass on.
Dreamstation Go
A relatively new release, the Dreamstation Go by Philips Respironics made its way onto the Canadian market (and into our hearts), spring of 2018. It was designed to be a direct competitor to the beloved and highly buzzed about AirMini™. The Dreamstation Go is a small, sleek and compact, but don't be fooled by appearances: it weighs more than it looks.
Notable differences between the Dreamstation Go and the AirMini™ - the Dreamstation Go has a touch screen, full compatibility with all CPAP masks and compatibility to various heated and standard tubing!
Sounds good so far doesn’t it? Let’s move on to it’s accessories.
Heat/Moisture Exchanger (HME) Filter
As mentioned in our look at the AirMini™, travel units do not come with built in humidification chambers. Travel units use a waterless technology in the form of dry filters or tablets that provide moisture and heat. But Respironics does not make a waterless solution exclusive to the Dreamstation Go. You can get a third party heat/moisture exchanger. The HME filter accessory from the Z1™ Auto travel CPAP by HDM works pretty well on the Dreamstation. Those filters are certified for 7 full days of use.
Small or Medium Travel Kit
Personally, I am at the mercy of any attractively designed case or bag. Philips Respironics has travel cases for the Dreamstation. The smallest (below, on the left) is sturdy, stylish and rugged enough, but it is big enough to fit only the Dreamstation unit itself.
There's a medium size case (above, centre) that's more robust and can store both the main unit and the optional battery (which we'll talk about next). Both Small and Medium Travel Kits have a zipper closure and come with a separate washable canvas bag (top, right) to house your mask and tubing.
Dreamstation Go Overnight Battery
One of the core features of the Dreamstation Go is it’s exclusive overnight battery. Weighing in at 1.53lbs, it’s designed to match the look of the Dreamstation Go. First, remove the panel on the unit to reveal the battery port. The overnight battery connects seamlessly to the unit, giving you about 13 hours of uninterrupted therapy (at 10cmH20 pressure) on a 4-to-5 hour charge.
Medistrom™ Pilot-12 Lite Battery & Backup Power Supply
Although Philips Respironics makes a cordless backup and overnight battery exclusively for the Dreamstation Go, there are other options. Choice One Medical released the Medistrom™ Pilot-12 Lite as an alternative portable battery for the Dreamstation Go (also compatible with other CPAP brands and devices). A 3-hour charge with the Dreamstation AC Adapter can power up to 2 nights of therapy (on average pressure of 10 cmH20) with humidification and heated tubing disabled if using with main units.
There you have it, that’s a wrap on the Dreamstation Go. Completely in love? We know, we are too. We hope you enjoyed our informal “part one” and “part two” ongoing discussion of the tech- filled travel CPAPs and all their accessories.
The take home message? Regardless of which travel CPAP you invest in, both machines offer consistent and reliable therapy. It truly comes down to personal preferences in brands, look, compatibility and accessories. Now leaving your CPAP therapy at home is a thing of the past.
Don't Let Sleep Apnea Keep You From Traveling The World (Part 1)
With the advancement of technology in sleep medicine, patients with Sleep Apnea can now pick up and travel with ease. In the upcoming weeks, travel-specific CPAP machines will take center stage on our blog. We will go through our best selling travel units to help you decide which machine best suits your needs. From a short weekend camping trip to a long overseas flight, we've got you covered! Our first featured machine requires little introduction - the AirMini™ Auto Travel CPAP.
AirMini™
ResMed released the incredible AirMini™ unit in Canada in the spring of 2017. It is the most compact CPAP device ever manufactured and is designed to perform like a traditional bedside device – at a fraction of the size and weight. This AirMini™ focuses on exclusivity, only compatible with 3 ResMed style masks and 1 dedicated travel tubing. Follow us today as we customize the AirMini™ with some of the many available accessories making this travel companion more luggage-ready!
AirMini™ App
While having the app is not a requirement to operate the AirMini™, the handy AirMini™ app allows for convenient control of your device. Download the app on iTunes or Google Play to your smart device for instant access. The app allows you to adjust a range of comfort settings and view nightly sleep data informing you how well you slept.
HumidX™ and HumidX™ Plus Moisture Tablets
Besides it's itty-bitty-ness, the AirMini™ (and all other travel CPAPs) differs from it's bigger bedside sister in one other way - no built-in humidification. But this machine has a solution: waterless humidification technology which ResMed calls the HumidX™ System. Exclusive to the AirMini™ device, HumidX™ and HumidX™ Plus are heat and moisture exchangers (HME for short) designed to provide comfortable and effective humidification while using therapy. Connect a HumidX™ tablet between your CPAP mask and hose for up to 30 days of moisture. More on how HMEs work in an upcoming blog.
Premium Travel Bag or Hard Case
What good is a travel-sized CPAP without its own luggage?
The sleek and stylish premium travel bag will keep all your CPAP equipment together in one spot. It features various compartments for the AirMini™, tubing, your CPAP mask and power supply. This bag also has strategically-placed pockets for personal items and a comfortable shoulder strap. The biggest bonus of this travel bag: not only do most airlines allow it as a carry-on, it's also considered fare-exempted luggage!
Want added insurance while on the road? ResMed also offers a durable and water resistant hard case to protect the AirMini™ from spills, bumps, bruises and scratches.
Medistrom Pilot-24 Lite™ Cordless Backup Battery
Another popular accessory is the overnight battery; the Medistrom Pilot -24 Lite™ made by Choice One Medical. This revolutionary pocket-sized backup power supply and portable travel battery for the AirMini™ holds up to 9 hours of juice in just a 2-3 hour charge. Backup batteries, like this one (which is our favourite for reliability and battery life), add some piece of mind if you're trekking to remote locations (camping, RVing, boating, air travel) or where main power is not available. Also handy during a blackout. Recharges with the ResMed AirMini™ AC adapter.
We can all agree technology has made its way into the world of better sleep. With such amazing new products and accessories, traveling with CPAP therapy is easier than ever.
Another travel CPAP review next time! Stay tuned.