Why didn't ResMed construct the humidifier so it can be filled without removal?

[SarcasticDave94]

All ResMed 10 series machines are the same physical dimensions, including all CPAP, BPAP, ST-A, ASV. I've used an AutoSet and ST-A recently, and was on ASV for a few years. They all use the same humidifier tub.

I think its design was to force users to remove the tub from the PAP to add water and to encourage cleaning.

[mesenteria]

Some configurations of instruments have a historical reason for looking as they do.  It may have been that, at one time during development, the engineers expected to offer at least one other volume of water for those who needed more volume, or who needed and wanted none.  So, we have the cap, but we don't have the second, larger, volume of reservoir.   

It's just a guess....

It makes sense that the reservoir should be easily detachable for cleaning without having to disassemble the rest of the machine in order to do it.  You'd have to drag the hose and mask or detach those, and unplug the machine.  Why go to all that trouble when one can simply pull the reservoir aside and take it to the bathroom sink?

Filling the reservoir invites another set of problems.  Like running water accidentally over the body and into the controls.  

We drop things.  Plates, cups, tools, CPAP machines.  Or, we could just replace the reservoir.  We miss and spill water all over our night table, or again over the controls if we elect to bring water to the machine to fill it that way.

[CorruptAlligator]

Yup, the design works for not accidently spilling water on the CPAP machine (you pour the water in the large opening, not a small one. Separated from the electronic device.) and to detach for draining out the remaining water daily to air out dry (and for cleaning). Also, easy replacements.

[Big Guy]

You can't clean a humidifier tank without separating it from the machine. Forcing you to separate the tank increases the chance you will actually clean the tank, which the CPAP manufacturers specify should be done daily.

A very good point indeed, one that I completely overlooked. 

Anyways, for me, a detachable water reservoir works great.

[Homerec130]

And when the tank begins to leak or the seal goes bad, it is a lot easier to replace a removable unit rather than one integrated into the system.

[Doctor]

You can't clean a humidifier tank without separating it from the machine. Forcing you to separate the tank increases the chance you will actually clean the tank, which the CPAP manufacturers specify should be done daily.

Several of you are misunderstanding this concept. My suggestion is for a REMOVABLE humidifier, but for one that has a hinge on the posterior section that allows the user to fill the reservoir without having to remove the humidifier tank from the unit.  This makes it the best of both worlds.

[DaveL]

Doctor I understand your concerns. But it is what it is.

I put over 22,000 hours on my S9E with humidifier. It was easier to use.
Then I got my S10 with humidifier....I found it awkward too.


Nature being as it is they have come out with the newer machine. S11? I'll be enjoying my S10 for a long while. In spite of the humidifier.

(I got new hearing aids about 2 months ago. Found out this weekend there was a reason I couldn't hear. I put the wax filter in wrong when I changed it. It covered the opening in the speaker. Blocked the sound. It's so ..... small! Right now I'm using my hearing aids without wax guards. And swearing. What the .... were they thinking when they came up with this? Phonak what gives?)

[hegel]

I'd spill water on the unit within a week if the tank was integrated into the body. My guess is that more graceful people would spill water on the unit within 6 months. And then, what of the blind, those with parkinsons, etc.

It never occurred to me that I was being "forced" to remove the tank, any more than I was being forced to remove the fuel cap on my car to put in gas, or forced to step on the gas pedal to accelerate the car, or a million things like this. There's a series of ends that need to be achieved in the design of an integrated humidifier tub: safe filling, cleaning and replacement to name three. The standard design meets all three criteria. A leave-in tub would fail the first criteria: safe filling.

the term "forced" makes it seem like our freedom has been taken away. To me, the term is what sounds forced.

I mean, filling the tub is the least of my worries. If a product's design doesn't quite perfectly meet my most trivial wishes, I don't feel put out. Work with it.

Aristotle wrote " the hand is the tool of the tool". In other words, we have to shape our bodies and behavior to the requirements of the design of the tool that we're using. This is actually what makes us free: we can design useful tools, AND we can learn to accommodate our behavior to use them effectively.

[Doctor]

Do you recall the S9 machine? The S9 is far more convenient than the AS10. Extending the humidification chamber would keep the fill point further from the main unit, and in addition, solve the multiple complaints of users stating that their chamber ran dry during the night because of inadequate water volume.

[Neelix]

This would work better for you but sometimes you have to look at things from a manufacturer's point of view.
When designing the AS10 they would have looked at the data of the most common issues found while overhauling and servicing units, with an eye to resolving those issues especially if this is costing them money (eg warranty replacements) or reputation. (perceived unreliability) If one of those issues was a large number of water damaged units, then they would would have been looking for ways to address that, and ensuring that the humidifier needs to be removed from the unit before filling it removes a fairly high risk factor when it comes to water damage.

-Neelix