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 ā pauses usually last 10ā30 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 ā 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 ā easier to tolerate.
- 5Morning: remove mask, empty humidifier, air-dry with lid open.
- š„ļøTouchscreen + over-the-air updates
- š±myAir⢠Personal Therapy Assistant
- š§HumidAir⢠+ ClimateLineAir⢠heated tube
- šAutoRamp⢠+ SmartStartā¢
- š±4G cellular for myAirā¢
- š§HumidAir⢠+ ClimateLineAir⢠heated tube
- š¦World's smallest CPAP ā 300g
- š§HumidX⢠waterless ā requires setup pack per mask type
- āļøFAA-approved Ā· ~30 dB Ā· see AirMini deep-dive tab for full details
- š§ SensAwake⢠ā detects waking, reduces pressure
- š§ThermoSmart⢠humidifier system
- š³šæDesigned in New Zealand
- š¦400g Ā· budget travel CPAP option
- š§HME waterless humidification
- šWorks with standard tubing ā no setup pack required
- š¦Ultra-compact Ā· one of the smallest travel CPAPs available
- šShips with WhisperSoft⢠muffler ā ~27 dB (quieter than AirMini at ~30 dB)
- šWorks with any standard 22mm mask ā no proprietary setup pack needed
- š¬ļø30-min drying cycle after therapy ā 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 ā identical |
| EPR comfort | ā EPR | ā EPR via AirMini app |
| Data tracking | myAir app | AirMini app (Bluetooth) |
| Humidification | ||
| Humidifier type | HumidAir⢠water-based levels 1ā8 | HumidX⢠waterless ā level 2ā3 equivalent |
| Water required | Yes ā distilled water daily | No ā waterless, travel-friendly |
| Masks | ||
| HumidX-capable masks | N/A ā all masks work | 5 specific ResMed masks with setup pack (P10, N20, N30, F20, F30) |
| Other masks | N/A ā all masks work | Any mask via ZephAir + 22mm tube ā no HumidX |
| Practical | ||
| Size / weight | ~680g, bedside unit | 300g ā fits in palm, carry-on bag |
| Noise level | ~27 dB | ~30 dB ā 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 ā 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 ā but can still be used with the AirMini via a ZephAir adapter and standard 22mm tubing. The therapy is completely identical ā you just won't have HumidX humidification.
| Mask | Status | Setup pack | HumidX | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirFit P10 ā Nasal pillow | ā HumidX | P10 Setup Pack | Standard + Plus | Best travel option for nose breathers. Lightest mask. |
| AirFit N20 / AirTouch N20 ā Nasal | ā HumidX | N20 Setup Pack | Standard + Plus | AirTouch N20 foam rules still apply ā wipe-clean only. |
| AirFit N30 ā Nasal cradle | ā HumidX | N30 Setup Pack | Standard + Plus | Under-nose, good for bridge soreness. |
| AirFit F20 / AirTouch F20 ā Full face | ā HumidX (F20 variant) | F20 Setup Pack | F20 HumidX only ā ļø | Uses a different HumidX cartridge ā NOT interchangeable with nasal HumidX. |
| AirFit F30 ā Full face under-nose | ā 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 ā 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 | ā No HumidX | i-series connector incompatible with setup pack. |
| AirFit N30i / AirTouch N30i | Via ZephAir | ZephAir + 22mm tube | ā No HumidX | |
| AirFit P30i | Via ZephAir | ZephAir + 22mm tube | ā No HumidX | |
| AirFit F40 | Via ZephAir | ZephAir + 22mm tube | ā No HumidX | |
| Fisher & Paykel masks | Via ZephAir | ZephAir + 22mm tube | ā No HumidX | All F&P masks ā Simplus, Vitera, Eson 2, Evora, Solo, etc. |
| BMC masks | Via ZephAir | ZephAir + 22mm tube | ā No HumidX |
The AirMini is excellent ā 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 ā on both inhalation and exhalation ā is more audible to the user and anyone nearby.
Source: ResMed Asia Pacific confirms the AirMini measures approximately 2ā3 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 ā it delivers a fixed amount equivalent to approximately level 2ā3 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 1ā2 nights. If they wake up comfortable ā 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 ā 5 cmHāO | No | 19 hrs 42 min |
| ResMed AirMini | Medium ā 10 cmHāO | No | 12 hrs 44 min |
| For reference ā ResMed bedside machines (no humidifier/heated tubing) | |||
| ResMed AirSense 10 | Low ā 5 cmHāO | No | 15 hrs 54 min |
| ResMed AirSense 10 | Medium ā 10 cmHāO | No | 11 hrs 20 min |
| ResMed AirSense 11 | Low ā 5 cmHāO | No | 17 hrs 55 min |
| ResMed AirSense 11 | Medium ā 10 cmHāO | No | 11 hrs 34 min |
| Machine | Brand | Type | Standout feature | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirSense 11 | ResMed | Bedside APAP | Touchscreen, OTA updates, Personal Therapy Assistant | ā Latest |
| AirSense 10 | ResMed | Bedside APAP | AutoRampā¢, SmartStartā¢, 4G cellular | ā Current |
| AirMini | ResMed | Travel APAP | World's smallest, HumidXā¢, FAA-approved ā see deep-dive tab | ā Travel |
| SleepStyle+ | Fisher & Paykel | Bedside APAP | SensAwakeā¢, ThermoSmartā¢, NZ-designed | ā Latest |
| BMC M1 Mini | BMC | Travel APAP | 400g, budget travel, standard 22mm tubing | ā Travel |
| Transcend Micro Auto | Transcend | Travel APAP | WhisperSoft⢠muffler (~27 dB), standard 22mm, 30-min drying cycle | ā 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 ā add chin strap |
| Nasal pillows | Nostrils only | Claustrophobia, minimal contact, active sleepers | High pressure, congestion, mouth breathers |
2. Wrong cushion size ā try one size smaller.
3. Worn cushion ā replace if older than 3 months.
4. Facial hair ā nasal pillows (Brevida, P10) insert into nostrils and bypass beard.
5. Always test seal with machine running ā 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
ā ļø Do NOT recommend for hose-tangling: Solo Nasal, Solo Nasal Pillow, Nova Micro, Nova Nasal, Evora range, Brevida, P10 ā all side-entry.
Genuinely quiet vent options: P10 QuietAirā¢, Brevida, F40 QuietAirā¢, 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 ā it helps desensitise to the feeling before trying at night.
2. Increase the tube temperature by 1ā2 steps ā warmer air means less condensation.
3. Reduce the humidity level by 1ā2 steps ā less moisture in the system.
4. Keep the machine lower than the head ā gravity prevents water running toward the mask.
5. Use a tube wrap in cold rooms ā insulates the outside of the tube.
2. Use Ramp mode ā 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 ā Ramp + EPR/C-Flex.
3. Claustrophobia ā start with nasal pillows during the day while awake.
4. "Doesn't feel necessary" ā show AHI data from myAir / AirMini app ā 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 ā replace on wear signs
- CCushion ā replace if:Cracks Ā· Flattened silicone Ā· Foam no longer conforming Ā· Discolouration Ā· Persistent odour Ā· New unexplained leaks Ā· Over 4 weeks old (foam) or 3 months (silicone)
- HHeadgear ā replace if:Lost elasticity Ā· Needs over-tightening to seal Ā· Velcro won't hold Ā· Fraying straps
- TTubing ā replace if:Any holes or tears Ā· Stiff or brittle Ā· Discolouration or visible mould inside
- FFilter ā replace if:Visibly grey or brown Ā· Torn Ā· Machine sounding louder than usual
The AirTouch F20/N20 and F30i/N30i use two completely different cushion materials. The rules are different ā 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 |
