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F&P HC-230 Series CPAP

Posted by D.H. on July 13, 2005 at 17:42:23:

After six years – almost to the day – of getting my first CPAP – which was an HC-201 – I got my second CPAP. This time I got an HC-233. I got another F&P because it was the smallest combined unit on the market, because it seemed reliable (having lasted for six years), and because my sleep doctor was partial to F&P CPAPs back in 1999.

Based on the runaround that I got from the on-plan DME, I decided to go to an off-plan DME. This would mean that I’ll have a 30% co-payment instead of a 10% co-payment. The off-plan penalty is not quite as harsh as this seems, as his price is about half of what an on-plan DME would charge.

The new CPAP is just about the same size as the old, give or take ½" (about 1 cm) in any dimension. The new unit is so quiet that it’s hard to believe it’s on; even at my prescription of 15cmH2O! I did take a manometer to measure the output; it is indeed the prescribed pressure. In fact, the only sound that I can hear at all is noise of the air blowing through the mask. If there should ever be a leak, I think that I would actually be able to hear it!

The old unit would start at the bottom of the ramp, requiring me to push a button to disengage the ramp. That was no big deal in itself, except that the ramp would sometimes re-engage if the lights would momentarily flicker. The new unit starts at full speed; I had the ramp set to zero. The ramp can still be engaged manually.

The old unit has a permanently affixed electric cord and a three prong plug. The old cord had begun to fray. The new unit has a detachable cord with a two-prong plug. This will be more convenient for travel, especially international travel. I will need to carry only non-grounded adapters and two-pronged extension cords. In addition, the detachable cord is good. If it becomes frayed, I can simply buy a new cord in any hardware store.

The new unit has an anti-rainout feature. I have not experienced rainout thus far. However, I hardly ever had this problem with the old unit either.

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