My healthdyne tranquility quest machine only lasted 7 and a bit years at a moderate pressure setting I think the company was bought out but dont know if this machine is still in production

it has worn motor bearings and will soon sieze and several people have said its not worth repairing, previous repair attempts result in the correct pressure not being maintained
do other brands of CPAP machines last any longer?

I now have a sullivan resmed S6, which I am happy with although some earlier sullivan machines were very noisy, with a loud whining noise that came in with the air and filled my head

lynn543 wrote:

My healthdyne tranquility quest machine only lasted 7 and a bit years at a moderate pressure setting I think the company was bought out but dont know if this machine is still in production

it has worn motor bearings and will soon sieze and several people have said its not worth repairing, previous repair attempts result in the correct pressure not being maintained
do other brands of CPAP machines last any longer?

I now have a sullivan resmed S6, which I am happy with although some earlier sullivan machines were very noisy, with a loud whining noise that came in with the air and filled my head

Hi,

My first machine lasted 7.5 years at pressures varying between 18 and 14. It was by a French company, subsequently bought out by Puritan Bennett. Towards the end the estimated cost of repair was c. $550 and the machine was hardly worth 150, so it was a 'no contest'.

I think that Healthdyne were bought out by either ResMed or Respironics towards the end of the 90's. The Health authorities in Ireland reckon the CPAP machines have a lifespan of 5 years (depreciation policy), but if not abused should last anything up to 10 years. In fact they usually last 6/8 years.
Usually when a medical manufacturing company is taken over/bought out, the FDA or equivalent will insist that existing products be continued for a specific period and that spares/service be available for a period of anything up to 7 years (varies) for those products, after they cease to produce them.

ResMed (Sullivan) machines are OK. I use the S7 (3 + years now) and can't fault it.

Daniel

Follow-up question:

How often will most health insurance companies pay for another CPAP machine?   UnitedHealth Care will buy me a new mask every six months... I am just not sure about the CPAP machine (and humidifier)...  I am sure it must be on the order of several years.   Does anyone know generally how often?


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mesocosm

OSA / PLMD / Atrial Fibrillation

[quote="mesocosm"]Follow-up question:

How often will most health insurance companies pay for another CPAP machine?   UnitedHealth Care will buy me a new mask every six months... I am just not sure about the CPAP machine (and humidifier)...  I am sure it must be on the order of several years.   Does anyone know generally how often?[/quote]

This is just information from the insurance companies that I have dealt with.  Ususally the insurance companies will only willingly purchase a new machine for you when the cost of repair over time exceeds the price of a new one.  That usually translates into every 5-7 years.  That is the exact wording that we place on our Prior Authorization Forms when we are requesting a new machine for someone.  You could probably find out by calling the insurance and asking them.  What a pain, I know, or ask your insurance verification dept at your DME to do that for you.   Don't you just hate it when your machine just starts making this funny noise and you think that it might be time for a new one.....   

The insurance situation here where I am is that a new sleep study must be performed before the patient can have a new machine paid for.  One of our labs is fairly new, and in a very rural area. People have come in before and said they have had the same machines for 10+ years

A friend of mine who had a ten year old working cpap, said his sleep physician told him that after that many years, even with good care, the machine can become contaminated.  Even with proper care of the filters, some fine dust does manage to find its way in, as does some humidity from our heated humidifiers.   It is also nice to be able to replace machines to benefit from the advances in technology that continually make them smaller, quieter, and have advanced features for comfort.

I had my first machine for 16 years.  Only got it replaced when the motor started to fail.

16 years...wow...that's a long time. My blue cross will cover a machine every five years...so I hope it last at least that long.


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*** Linda ***

i heard 7 years, but in Canada, OHIP (ontario health insurance plan) will cover the cost of a new machine every 5 years.  God bless Canada and free health care!