ResMed manual Why use ApneaLink?, How does ApneaLink work?

Simplicity, cost-effectiveness and state-of-the-art technology combine in the ApneaLink,

the ultimate choice for homecare providers, sleep labs and clinicians. The ApneaLink is one of the few true sleep-screening devices available for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, pro- viding the link to an improved quality of life by cost-effectively testing chronic disease patients, intra-hospital pre-op surgical patients, occupational health patients and other high-risk patients.

The ApneaLink readily transitions patients from referring physicians to sleep centers.

ApneaLink is portable, battery-powered and user-friendly and will streamline any user’s sleep- screening process. A versatile tool, ApneaLink can be used in the patient’s home in remote locations (or any location where patients are sleeping).

Three easy steps can link you to more OSA patients and, most importantly, provide them a better quality of life:

1	Screening – ApneaLink
2	Diagnosis – Polysomnography
3	Treatment – ResMed PAP therapy
Why use ApneaLink?		ApneaLink without oximetry

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is recognized as a serious health problem that impacts about 43 million US adults; however, more than 80% remain undiagnosed and untreated.1 The ApneaLink connects clinicians to their patients by dramati- cally increasing the number of identified SDB patients through primary care and specialty referral sources, thereby routing more patients for diagnosis to a sleep center.

How does ApneaLink work?

The basic ApneaLink is a single-channel screening device that uses a simple nasal cannula to record patient breathing. It automatically analyzes and derives AHI, flow limitation and snoring and later automatically generates a simple, easy-to- interpret report with a color-keyed Risk Indicator for the clinician to review.

With oximetry, the ApneaLink records three channels of information: respiration, oximetry and pulse.

The basic ApneaLink is the perfect choice for those who need a cost-effective, accurate screening tool. Reliable and simple to use, the basic ApneaLink offers the following features and benefits:

•Add oximetry at any time, no software changes required—simply “plug & play”

•Automatically analyzes and derives AHI, AI and HI, flow limitation and snoring

•Uses one software set for both ApneaLinks (with and without oximetry)

•Auto-generates a simple, easy-to-interpret one-page report with a color-keyed Risk Indicator

•Can be used to identify intra-hospital preoperative patients at risk for SDB, thereby improving overall quality of care

•Enables referral sources to easily and objectively determine whether to refer a patient for further evaluation

•Cost-effectively screens chronic disease patients, drowsy drivers and other high-risk individuals

•Improves patient care by providing quicker access to the treatment care path

•Sensitivity 100%, specificity 87.5% at AHI of 102

1Young et al. State of the Art, AJRCCM 2002

2 Wang Y et al. Pneumologie 2003