Philips DreamStation Go with Heated Humidifier improves travel for sleep apnoea patients

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, has introduced the DreamStation Go with Heated Humidifier – its smallest and lightest ultra-portable positive airway pressure (PAP) device designed to simplify travel for patients living with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The DreamStation Go with Heated Humidifier is an ultra-portable water-based humidifier that can use drinking water, potable water[1] or bottled water for added convenience. This eliminates the need for patients to pack or search for distilled water.

“In Malaysia, sleep disordered breathing such as OSA affects as many as 15% of adults and up to 9% of children[2], many of whom rely heavily on PAP therapy to improve their quality of life. For them, travelling with a sleep therapy device can be a cumbersome experience. When patients do not receive proper therapy, they can experience immediate recurrence of sleep disordered breathing with similar frequencies to that of pre-treatment[3],” said Muhammad Ali Jaleel, Country Manager, Philips Malaysia. “The DreamStation Go with Heated Humidifier model is traveller-friendly and ensures that patients can enjoy the best possible night’s sleep no matter where they are,” he said.

The DreamStation Go with Heated Humidifier offers convenience without compromise. It fits easily into a suitcase and comes with a built-in power supply to help reduce the number of components to pack. Its innovative 12mm micro-flexible tubing is also Philips’ smallest and lightest ever and allows for improved mobility during sleep, although users can also choose to use the 15mm and 22mm tubing with the DreamStation Go range.

Uncompromising in convenience and flexibility

The DreamStation Go with Heated Humidifier is compatible with tap, bottled or distilled water. In addition, the DreamStation Go with Heated Humidifier’s compatibility with masks from other PAP models gives users the freedom to bring and use their preferred mask even when travelling. It complies with international aviation standards for in-flight use, so users can keep up with therapy even when taking an extended or red-eye flight.

Other features aimed at improving convenience for users include water-saving technology designed to manage the device’s water usage evenly throughout the night, preventing dryness caused by water running out and an optional battery, which provides approximately 13 hours of therapy. Furthermore, as an added safety precaution, it is also Philips’ first heated humidifier to offer automatic heater plate shutdown. Beyond travel, the DreamStation Go with Heated Humidifier is also sturdy enough to serve as the daily PAP device for users, even at home.

Ready for connected care

The DreamStation Go range is available in either a fixed-pressure continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or an auto-titrated APAP model. Both options are Bluetooth-enabled for seamless data transmission to Philips’ EncoreAnywhere and Care Orchestrator cloud-based patient management systems for clinicians.

Portable options for patient freedom

Beyond OSA, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are also common respiratory conditions that impact the quality of life for patients and may limit their freedom to travel and participate in activities outside the home. In Malaysia, respiratory disorders are the top three principal causes of hospitalisation and death in Malaysia. The prevalence of asthma in children and adults is estimated at 8.9% to 13% and 6.3% respectively while the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is estimated at 3.4–6.5% depending on definitions used[4].

With the quality of life among millions of Malaysians impacted, there is a clear need to have innovative medical devices to help ensure that respiratory issues don’t hinder the health or active lifestyle of these patients.

Asthma and COPD can be made more manageable with the correct therapy, such as nebulised medications. To offer patients more flexibility, Philips’ InnoSpire Go – their smallest and lightest portable hand-held nebuliser system, is designed to deliver medication in just four minutes, reducing treatment time by up to 25 percent[5]. Weighing just 111g and measuring just under 14cm, the InnoSpire Go is almost as small as a regular dosing inhaler, putting hospital-grade nebuliser technology into the hands of the user for portable, fast and effective medication delivery.

For COPD patients who require oxygen therapy, the SimplyGo portable oxygen concentrator (POC) frees them to leave the home. Offering continuous flow and pulse-dose delivery in a device weighing less than 5kg, the SimplyGo also has more than twice the oxygen output of any POC of equivalent weight. To extend the patient’s time away from home, the SimplyGo’s lightweight and compact battery is easily accessible and can be quickly changed by patients. For even more demanding mobility needs, patients can opt for the SimplyGo Mini, the smallest and lightest portable oxygen concentrator from Philips yet. Built for the demands of today’s active patients, this lightweight POC is designed and rigorously tested to be reliable and durable in real-world environments, just like its bigger counterpart SimplyGo. With a standard battery, the SimplyGo Mini weighs only 2.3kg.