Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder involving recurrent partial or complete obstruction of the upper airways. Airway muscles relax during sleep, soft tissue collapses, oxygen levels fall, and the brain triggers a brief arousal to resume breathing — pauses usually last 10–30 seconds and can recur hundreds of times per night.
Private-to-public: After 8 weeks compliance on a private device, patients can be referred for a funded one.
Low income: Work and Income may assist with funding.
Mild/moderate OSA typically self-fund.
CPAP = Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Not a ventilator — does not provide supplemental oxygen. Pressurised air acts as a pneumatic splint, preventing airway collapse during sleep. The machine simply keeps the airway open by blowing a continuous stream of air.
| Type | How it works | Common for | NZ context |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPAP (Fixed) | Constant set pressure all night | Most OSA with stable prescription | Requires clinician-set pressure |
| APAP (Auto) | Auto-adjusts pressure as needed | Variable apnoea; new patients | All stocked machines are APAP-capable |
| BiPAP | Higher inhale / lower exhale pressure | CSA, COPD, high-pressure intolerant | Specialist prescription only |
- 1Fill humidifier to MAX with distilled water only.Tap water causes mineral build-up and may void warranty.
- 2Attach tubing firmly to machine outlet and mask connector.
- 3Put on the mask and adjust headgear for a comfortable seal.
- 4Press start or use Ramp mode.Ramp starts at low pressure, gradually increases as the patient falls asleep — easier to tolerate.
- 5Morning: remove mask, empty humidifier, air-dry with lid open.
- 🖥️Touchscreen + over-the-air updates
- 📱myAir™ Personal Therapy Assistant
- 💧HumidAir™ + ClimateLineAir™ heated tube
- 🔄AutoRamp™ + SmartStart™
- 📱4G cellular for myAir™
- 💧HumidAir™ + ClimateLineAir™ heated tube
- 📦World's smallest CPAP — 300g
- 💧HumidX™ waterless — requires setup pack per mask type
- ✈️FAA-approved · ~30 dB · see AirMini deep-dive tab for full details
- 🧠SensAwake™ — detects waking, reduces pressure
- 💧ThermoSmart™ humidifier system
- 🇳🇿Designed in New Zealand
- 📦400g · budget travel CPAP option
- 💧HME waterless humidification
- 🌐Works with standard tubing — no setup pack required
- 📦Ultra-compact · one of the smallest travel CPAPs available
- 🔇Ships with WhisperSoft™ muffler — ~27 dB (quieter than AirMini at ~30 dB)
- 🌐Works with any standard 22mm mask — no proprietary setup pack needed
- 🌬️30-min drying cycle after therapy — reduces moisture and mould risk
We stock Philips DreamWear masks but not DreamStation machines. For machine replacement, recommend the AirSense 11 or SleepStyle+.
| Feature | AirSense 10/11 (bedside) | AirMini (travel) |
|---|---|---|
| Therapy | ||
| Algorithm | AutoSet APAP | AutoSet APAP — identical |
| EPR comfort | ✓ EPR | ✓ EPR via AirMini app |
| Data tracking | myAir app | AirMini app (Bluetooth) |
| Humidification | ||
| Humidifier type | HumidAir™ water-based levels 1–8 | HumidX™ waterless ≈ level 2–3 equivalent |
| Water required | Yes — distilled water daily | No — waterless, travel-friendly |
| Masks | ||
| HumidX-capable masks | N/A — all masks work | 5 specific ResMed masks with setup pack (P10, N20, N30, F20, F30) |
| Other masks | N/A — all masks work | Any mask via ZephAir + 22mm tube — no HumidX |
| Practical | ||
| Size / weight | ~680g, bedside unit | 300g — fits in palm, carry-on bag |
| Noise level | ~27 dB | ~30 dB — louder due to no acoustic insulation space |
| Airline carry-on | Allowed | FAA-approved, doesn't count toward luggage limit |
| 12V vehicle power | Requires inverter | AirMini DC/DC Converter — runs directly from 12V |
Compatible masks = masks that work with the AirMini's proprietary setup pack tubing, giving full HumidX™ waterless humidification.
Non-compatible masks = masks that cannot use the setup pack or HumidX — but can still be used with the AirMini via a ZephAir adapter and standard 22mm tubing. The therapy is completely identical — you just won't have HumidX humidification.
| Mask | Status | Setup pack | HumidX | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirFit P10 — Nasal pillow | ✓ HumidX | P10 Setup Pack | Standard + Plus | Best travel option for nose breathers. Lightest mask. |
| AirFit N20 / AirTouch N20 — Nasal | ✓ HumidX | N20 Setup Pack | Standard + Plus | AirTouch N20 foam rules still apply — wipe-clean only. |
| AirFit N30 — Nasal cradle | ✓ HumidX | N30 Setup Pack | Standard + Plus | Under-nose, good for bridge soreness. |
| AirFit F20 / AirTouch F20 — Full face | ✓ HumidX (F20 variant) | F20 Setup Pack | F20 HumidX only ⚠️ | Uses a different HumidX cartridge — NOT interchangeable with nasal HumidX. |
| AirFit F30 — Full face under-nose | ✓ Setup pack, no HumidX | F30 Setup Pack | No HumidX | Setup pack available but no HumidX for F30. |
The ZephAir connector bridges the AirMini's proprietary port to a standard 22mm CPAP tube — connecting any mask. Therapy is full and complete. The only loss is HumidX waterless humidification.
| Mask | Status | What's needed | HumidX | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirFit F30i / AirTouch F30i | Via ZephAir | ZephAir + 22mm tube | ✗ No HumidX | i-series connector incompatible with setup pack. |
| AirFit N30i / AirTouch N30i | Via ZephAir | ZephAir + 22mm tube | ✗ No HumidX | |
| AirFit P30i | Via ZephAir | ZephAir + 22mm tube | ✗ No HumidX | |
| AirFit F40 | Via ZephAir | ZephAir + 22mm tube | ✗ No HumidX | |
| Fisher & Paykel masks | Via ZephAir | ZephAir + 22mm tube | ✗ No HumidX | All F&P masks — Simplus, Vitera, Eson 2, Evora, Solo, etc. |
| BMC masks | Via ZephAir | ZephAir + 22mm tube | ✗ No HumidX |
The AirMini is excellent — but it's not right for everyone. Three things differ meaningfully from a bedside machine. Cover all three before completing any sale.
A standard CPAP machine has enough internal space for acoustic dampening material that muffles motor noise before it reaches the airflow path. The AirMini's ultra-compact design leaves no room for this insulation. The result: the motor noise — on both inhalation and exhalation — is more audible to the user and anyone nearby.
Source: ResMed Asia Pacific confirms the AirMini measures approximately 2–3 dB louder than the AirSense 10 for both radiated and conducted noise.
A standard bedside CPAP lets patients dial in humidity from level 1 (very dry) to level 8 (very humid). HumidX doesn't have adjustable levels — it delivers a fixed amount equivalent to approximately level 2–3 on a standard machine.
Before the customer buys, suggest they turn their current machine's humidity to its lowest setting and sleep on it for 1–2 nights. If they wake up comfortable — they'll likely cope well with HumidX. If they wake up dry or congested, the AirMini may not suit them for longer trips.
Official Medistrom run times chart (no humidifier/heated tube). Higher pressure = shorter runtime.
| Machine | Pressure | Humidifier | Pilot Flex run time |
|---|---|---|---|
| ResMed AirMini | Low — 5 cmH₂O | No | 19 hrs 42 min |
| ResMed AirMini | Medium — 10 cmH₂O | No | 12 hrs 44 min |
| For reference — ResMed bedside machines (no humidifier/heated tubing) | |||
| ResMed AirSense 10 | Low — 5 cmH₂O | No | 15 hrs 54 min |
| ResMed AirSense 10 | Medium — 10 cmH₂O | No | 11 hrs 20 min |
| ResMed AirSense 11 | Low — 5 cmH₂O | No | 17 hrs 55 min |
| ResMed AirSense 11 | Medium — 10 cmH₂O | No | 11 hrs 34 min |
| Machine | Brand | Type | Standout feature | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirSense 11 | ResMed | Bedside APAP | Touchscreen, OTA updates, Personal Therapy Assistant | ✓ Latest |
| AirSense 10 | ResMed | Bedside APAP | AutoRamp™, SmartStart™, 4G cellular | ✓ Current |
| AirMini | ResMed | Travel APAP | World's smallest, HumidX™, FAA-approved — see deep-dive tab | ✈ Travel |
| SleepStyle+ | Fisher & Paykel | Bedside APAP | SensAwake™, ThermoSmart™, NZ-designed | ✓ Latest |
| BMC M1 Mini | BMC | Travel APAP | 400g, budget travel, standard 22mm tubing | ✈ Travel |
| Transcend Micro Auto | Transcend | Travel APAP | WhisperSoft™ muffler (~27 dB), standard 22mm, 30-min drying cycle | ✈ Travel |
| Style | Covers | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full face | Nose + mouth | Mouth/both breathers, high pressure, nasal blockage | Claustrophobia, eye-area leaks |
| Nasal mask | Nose only | Nose breathers wanting comfort & seal balance | Mouth breathers — add chin strap |
| Nasal pillows | Nostrils only | Claustrophobia, minimal contact, active sleepers | High pressure, congestion, mouth breathers |
2. Wrong cushion size — try one size smaller.
3. Worn cushion — replace if older than 3 months.
4. Facial hair — nasal pillows (Brevida, P10) insert into nostrils and bypass beard.
5. Always test seal with machine running — dry fits often fail under pressure.
2. Replace worn cushion.
3. Switch to memory foam (AirTouch F20/N20) or fabric (AirTouch N30i/F30i) for softer contact.
4. Under-nose design (F30i, F40, Evora Full, N30i) removes bridge contact entirely.
5. Add mask liners (Remzzzs).
• ResMed: P30i, N30i, F30i, AirTouch F30i, AirTouch N30i
• BMC: N6, N6S, F6, F6S
• Philips: DreamWear Full Face, DreamWear UTN, DreamWear Pillow
⚠️ Do NOT recommend for hose-tangling: Solo Nasal, Solo Nasal Pillow, Nova Micro, Nova Nasal, Evora range, Brevida, P10 — all side-entry.
Genuinely quiet vent options: P10 QuietAir™, Brevida, F40 QuietAir™, Evora Full, BMC N6/N6S.
Nasal pillows (nostrils only): P30i, P10, Brevida, Nova Micro, Solo Nasal Pillow.
Tip: Have the customer try nasal pillows during the day while awake — it helps desensitise to the feeling before trying at night.
2. Increase the tube temperature by 1–2 steps — warmer air means less condensation.
3. Reduce the humidity level by 1–2 steps — less moisture in the system.
4. Keep the machine lower than the head — gravity prevents water running toward the mask.
5. Use a tube wrap in cold rooms — insulates the outside of the tube.
2. Use Ramp mode — gradual pressure increase as the patient falls asleep.
3. If persistent, refer to clinician for a pressure review.
Never change prescribed pressure without clinician instruction.
2. Pressure intolerance → Ramp + EPR/C-Flex.
3. Claustrophobia → start with nasal pillows during the day while awake.
4. "Doesn't feel necessary" → show AHI data from myAir / AirMini app — the numbers are compelling.
Refer to a sleep physiologist if compliance barriers persist.
Replace: Disposable filter
Foam: ResMed AU firm recommendation
No fixed ResMed AU interval — replace on wear signs
- CCushion — replace if:Cracks · Flattened silicone · Foam no longer conforming · Discolouration · Persistent odour · New unexplained leaks · Over 4 weeks old (foam) or 3 months (silicone)
- HHeadgear — replace if:Lost elasticity · Needs over-tightening to seal · Velcro won't hold · Fraying straps
- TTubing — replace if:Any holes or tears · Stiff or brittle · Discolouration or visible mould inside
- FFilter — replace if:Visibly grey or brown · Torn · Machine sounding louder than usual
The AirTouch F20/N20 and F30i/N30i use two completely different cushion materials. The rules are different — cleaning the wrong way damages the cushion and voids warranty.
| Component | Frequency | Method | Special rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mask cushion (silicone) | Daily | Mild soap + warm water | Air dry away from sun |
| AirTouch F20/N20 foam | Daily | Dry cloth wipe only | NEVER wet. Replace every 4 weeks. |
| AirTouch N30i/F30i fabric | Daily | Hand wash | No bristle brush. Air dry. |
| Headgear | Daily / wipe Weekly wash | Hand wash weekly | No washing machine |
| Tubing | Weekly | Soak & rinse | Hang to dry vertically |
| Humidifier tub | Weekly | 1:10 vinegar soak | Rinse with distilled water |
| Elbow / connector | Weekly | Rinse & inspect vents | Check for hairline cracks |
| Filter | Monthly replacement | Discard and replace | Do not wash disposable filters |
