Respironics, the manufacturer of the Respironics REMstar® Heated Humidifier, has received complaints of failures of the AC inlet connector on the REMstar Heated Humidifiers manufactured between December 2001 and April 2003. A small number of these failures have resulted in thermal damage to the humidifier enclosure, and there is a remote possibility that a thermal failure could result in the ignition of materials external to the device. For this reason, Respironics is asking that you remove the humidifier from its power source. You may continue using your CPAP device.

Respironics has decided to take voluntary action to mitigate the risk of failure. This action includes only the model 1005792, U1005792, R1005792, SC1005792, AC1005792, and 1007861.
This voluntary action is classified as a medical device recall, and is being conducted with the knowledge of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

WHAT TO DO:
Call Stericycle, Inc at 877-574-5038 or 317-275-7667.


_________________
Executive Director
American Sleep Apnea Association
1424 K Street, NW Ste. 302
Washington, DC 20005
202-293-3650

Sleepapnea_ed
I want to thank-you for the post and the Apnea Supprt Forum. I have the Repironics Remstar Heated Humidifier, my model was being recalled I contacted my CPAP equipment supplier and sent them a the url for this web site notification. They inturned contacted the company, I was called today that they have recieved the new replacement humidifer and I have an appointment this Friday to bring my old one in for an exchange. The funny thing is my CPAP equipment supplier did not know anything about the recall until I notified them. And I am sure I would have never found out about it without your web site and posting. Note several weeks before I found the recall I brought back my machine and humidifier, because during the night I woke up with a strong smell  of  hot electrical scent. it was so strong that it gagged me. Anyway they checked the machine out and couldn't find anything wrong, so  I continued to use it,  but occasionally  I still smelled the same hot electrical scent . Shortly after that, my doctor started me on Oxygen with the BiPAP, and as fate would have it I then came  across this posting. I am not sure  anything more serious would of ever happened, but I didn't want to take any chances, so as I said I  immediately  took  action and contacted my equipment supplier.  Again Thank-You  White Beard

Thank You,

I have one noted and I was not informed by the Health care provider.  
So far my experience is that I have to be proactive to get quality care.

I just received a new Respironics Remstar (M Series A-Flex).  These machines are so comfortable compared to the regular CPAP. But I had to suggest it to my physician as an alternative device.  And who wants to sleep with a noisy mask? Again I requested the ResMed Ultra Mirage, they said it was no longer available:(  and they sent the Repironics ComfortFull. Noisy as all get out when you are accustom to a quiet mask.

So now they are sendiing the ResMed Quattor. Forth generation?!? Looking at the picture and video on the ResMed web site it looks as bulky as can be.  Why can't they just stay with a good product that works. I've put over 4000 hours and have become very comfortable with it. No longer available!!! I hope they still provide the mask seal. I'll stay with the Ultra Mirage and just replace the seals.

Thank for letting me vent.
John

I certainly haven't heard of the Ultra Mirage no longer being produced. They are still available for sale online if you want to self-purchase one. OR, you could call your insurance company and find out if they would allow you to purchase your Ultra Mirage online and if you bill them and provide a copy of the paid invoice as proof of the purchase and your insurance reimburse you. They might be willing to do so - especially when you tell them how much cheaper the Ultra Mirage can be purchased online.

Frankly, between no notice of your CPAP humidifier being recalled and saying the Ultra Mirage was no longer being made I would question whether your local DME supplier is being entirely truthful w/you.

Now, it COULD be that Resmed is no longer manufacturing the Ultra Mirage and the online suppliers just have a larger inventory onhand - BUT - given the poor quality of service by so many local DME suppliers ...... I'd go to Resmed's website and e-mail or call them to ask about the Ultra Mirage.

I learned w/my first local DME supplier to double-check EVERYTHING they told me because they were WAY TOO OFTEN LESS THAN TRUTHFUL. Or very good a playing dumb. Obviously they are no longer my DME supplier!!!!


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed's new VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro mask, ResScan 3.4 software, SPO 7500 oximeter.

Thanks!

I'm going to contact Repironics and find out if they will ship me the new humidifier directly.  I'll also check with Resmed on the status of the U-Mirage availability.  Will post my findings.

John

was this ever resolved - really?
I read it was not really fixed when this was posted and there has been a new design change just recently made available (May-2008).  I have not accepted my Respironics M Series machine yet and how will I know what to look for to be certain I have the FIXED (redesigned) model?  

Anyone up on this?
Thanks,

Hi,


The new RemSTAR M Series Auto/A-Flex unit that I got  January 2008 is not even recalled model.  So I would think by May you would be safe from receiving a recalled unit.


Just an update. I called Stericycle, Inc at 877-574-5038 or 317-275-7667.  They were handling the recall for Respironics and when I gave them the serial number off my original Respironics REMstar® Heated Humidifier, they advised me that it was NOT a recalled unit.  Again my local distributor and his contact at Respironics both said that there was no active recalls. The Respironics' distributor actually said it was an Internet hoax just to make Respironics look bad!!!! Can you believe that!!

Also, I am using the new mask by ResMed, the Quattor, and while the adjusting screw over the nose bridge is bulky it has not been a problem.  The pressure on the bridge of the nose is still a problem for me and while they claim that the mask is 50% quieter, I think its 50% nosier that the Ultra Mirage.  The Quattro has many more vent holes  and some new mechanism in the tubing joint that allow for exhalation if the cpap pressure cuts off for some reason.  I like that and their overall design in this regard is more efficient then on the Respironics full face mask  (which I tried and found to be totally uncomfortable and even nosier). Overall, I think the improvement in the Quattro over the Ultra Mirage made the switch to the Quattro worthwhile for me.


John

Thanks for the update John, I was curious since there was some guy over at cpaptalk dot com claiming (and showing photos) of an updated design which was just recently (Apr/May-2008) implemented.