V-Com Inspiratory Comfort for PAP Therapy

Details & Specs for V-Com Inspiratory Comfort for PAP Therapy

Helping patients adjust to CPAP on their own

Adding V-Com to a patient’s therapy is like Training Wheels for CPAP. This simple device can mean the difference between your patient giving up on PAP or continuing their lifesaving treatment.

Within minutes, a respiratory therapist can show a patient what the PAP pressure feels like with and without the V-Com device inline. This feedback mechanism allows them to better understand how their airflow should feel.

As you know, comfort equals adherence and adherence equals better treatment outcomes.

The V-Com Difference

Improve early PAP tolerance with V-Com by providing your patients with initial comfort without compromising their treatment.

Traditionally when a patient struggles with the constant flow of air pressure, pressure settings are reduced.

Reducing pressure settings to increase a patient’s initial tolerance improves comfort, but at a cost.

Decreasing pressure settings also means decreasing expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) which is principally responsible for therapy.

The V-Com effect is flow-dependent with its maximum comforting effect during the high inspiratory flows. As a result, V-Com has minimal effect on expiratory positive airway pressure.

Training wheels for CPAP

Your patient’s comfort matters most. There are no time restrictions. They can use V-Com for as little or as long as they need. Once your patient feels they don’t need V-Com anymore because they’ve adjusted to their device’s airflow pressure and developed their own tolerance, they may simply stop using it.

However, many patients who have been on CPAP therapy for years find that V-Com also reduces CPAP noise, reduces leak, or eliminates their need for a chinstrap. Patients who opt to continue use long term should replace their V-Com every 3 months along with their CPAP mask and other CPAP supplies.

V-Com provides inspiratory comfort for patients using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP & APAP) and bi-level PAP therapy.

Indications for use:
This device is intended for single patient use in noninvasive breathing circuits to provide comfort to patients on CPAP, APAP, and bi-level PAP therapy.

Directions for use:

1. Make sure flow-generating device is turned off.
2. Remove V-Com device from package and place in noninvasive breathing circuit between the hose from the flow-generating device and the patient interface (mask).
3. Verify all fittings are secure before turning on flow-generating device.
4. Clean (or replace) V-Com device after each use or 24-hour period per instructions.
5. If V-Com is to be used long term, it should be replaced every 3 months (similar to hoses, masks, etc.).

Specifications:

OD: 22MM
ID: 22MM
Volume: 18 mL
Weight: 9 grams

Resistance to flow:

0.3 cmH2O @ 20 Lpm
0.6 cmH2O @ 30 Lpm
1.1 cmH2O @ 40 Lpm
1.7 cmH2O @ 50 Lpm

Cautions:
Single patient use. Do not attempt to sterilize. Use cleaning instructions. Before each use visually inspect the V-Com device to ensure airflow path is not obstructed. Replace V-Com if signs of wear are present.

Warnings:
Do not place the V-Com device in an active breathing circuit as this could possibly affect algorithms for auto-titration and respiratory event detection. Always turn flow-generating device off first, place V-Com device in the breathing circuit, and then turn flow-generating device back on.

V-Com affects inspiratory PAP more than expiratory PAP which may decrease pressure support and tidal volume during NIV therapy. V-Com has not been tested in adaptive servo ventilation and average volume-adjusted pressure support breathing circuits.

Cleaning Instructions:
Wash with soap (e.g., liquid dish soap) and water, inserting a small, bristled brush in both ends of the V-Com device to penetrate and clean the complete airflow path. Twist the brush several times. Rinse with clean water and let air dry. Inspect for any damage or residue. If seen, reclean or replace.

V-Com is an accessory to a prescription therapy (CPAP, APAP, or bi-level PAP) and does not require a separate prescription.