Nov. 12, 2009

Philips Respironics, Murrysville, Pa., introduced its next generation Philips Respironics Sleep Therapy System early last month. The new system provides new levels of control, compliance, and efficiency to help health care professionals improve patient outcomes, grow their businesses, and better manage their operating costs.

"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," said Donald Spence, chief executive officer of Philips Home Healthcare Solutions. "It is our most sophisticated offering to date, and it comes at a time when patient compliance matters most."

With new advanced event detection software and expanded reporting capabilities, the 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. 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. 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.

The device is engineered with new Dry Box technology and a water chamber designed to keep water only where needed, while delivering consistent humidification. 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.