DeVilbiss Healthcare’s IntelliPAP

• By Elisha Bury
• Jan 29, 2008

When DeVilbiss’ Healthcare set out to create the new IntelliPAP Standard and AutoAdjust CPAP Systems, the company had an important goal: try to deliver all things to all people. To make the strategy work, product developers had to know what the industry wanted.

The plan involved a bold move: After conducting a series of interviews with key clinicians the year before, the company used its booth space at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS) to conduct a survey. That meant forgoing the usual product display.

“The responses we received from these activities guided us in the development of the initial clinical requirements for our new platform,” explains Kristin Mastin, DeVilbiss’ director of marketing.

But DeVilbiss didn’t stop there. An extensive research review to identify features that would increase patient compliance followed. The company also talked with customers and analyzed competitive product features to arrive at the current IntelliPAP design.

Some design elements were a given. A quiet platform was a must. DeVilbiss achieves that with a 26 dBA operation that’s specifically quieter during pressure transitions.

Also non-negotiable was a design that meshed with the home environment. “Women really seem to like the aesthetic — noting it looks friendly and fits nicely into their bedroom décor,” Mastin says.

Part of the reason the IntelliPAP looks so good is because of carefully planned components. The flow generator and humidifier are powered by one source, an internal power supply. Translation: The 8-foot power cord is missing a huge eyesore — the bulky power brick. Only three buttons on the keypad, which are larger than average, control both the humidifier and CPAP. Patients can even adjust the contrast on the display, Mastin says. The tubing, in various lengths, extends from the back of the unit to minimize clutter.

Patient compliance was also crucial. Minimizing the time patients spend thinking about their therapy makes using the device easier. To that end, each system features pressure ramp delay and automatic altitude adjustment up to 9,000 feet.

The AutoAdjust model also includes automatic pressure adjustment, adjustable apnea/hypopnea detection, adjustable upper and lower pressure limits, an adjustable delay setting and automatic detection of mask conditions.

DeVilbiss then turned its attention to education. Each unit comes with two DVDs: “An Introduction to CPAP Therapy” and “Using Your DeVilbiss intelliPAP System.” Between the two instructional videos, patients get a first-person account of what to expect and tips on CPAP maintenance.

The goal was to “provide strategies to help patients acclimate to therapy,” Mastin says. “We have also expanded our instructional guides to include useful patient information and resources.”

One of the most intelligent components is the humidifier system. Mastin says the reservoir was designed flat to maintain its compact size while increasing the surface area. “The larger surface area increases the amount of contact made with the heater plate, which generates greater humidity levels,” she says.

The humidifier chamber also incorporates a series of baffles that create turbulence to achieve additional moisture. The chamber, which slides easily into and out of the unit, is made of GE Lexan plastic for durability and features water ingress protection to minimize leaks.

Simply put, the IntelliPAP system, which launched the first week of February, anticipates the needs of respiratory therapists, providers and end-users.

Now that’s intelligent design.

DeVilbiss Healthcare
7477 E. Dry Creek Parkway
Longmont, CO 80503
(800) 338-1988
www.DeVilbissHealthcare.com

This article originally appeared in the March 2008 issue of HME Business.