(02-10-2018, 11:07 AM)Walla Walla Wrote: Is this it?  

(02-10-2018, 12:01 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: All I use is 3.4% hydrogen peroxide from Walmart.  I add about 1/2 cup to a humidifier chamber and slosh it around.  I use a Q-tip to physically clean out any corners and crevices.  If there is any biofilm, it float out and makes the peroxide cloudy.  Works extremely well.  Rinse to finish.  The same thing can be done with a CPAP tube.  Pour enough in to make a pool, then alternately lift each end.  The foaming action of peroxide on any organic matter lifts it off the surface and disinfects.  This is not a system, it is just a well-know way to disinfect without odor or residues.

I have a summer cottage with well water that sometimes develops a sulfurous smell.  Peroxide is often used in hot water tanks and water systems. Peroxide disinfects, and the byproduct is oxygen.  I dump a quart of peroxide into the water heater and it kills the sulfur bacteria and leaves the water odor free. Pretty cool, huh?

(02-03-2019, 10:47 AM)zzz1 Wrote:

(02-10-2018, 12:01 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: All I use is 3.4% hydrogen peroxide from Walmart.  I add about 1/2 cup to a humidifier chamber and slosh it around.  I use a Q-tip to physically clean out any corners and crevices.  If there is any biofilm, it float out and makes the peroxide cloudy.  Works extremely well.  Rinse to finish.  The same thing can be done with a CPAP tube.  Pour enough in to make a pool, then alternately lift each end.  The foaming action of peroxide on any organic matter lifts it off the surface and disinfects.  This is not a system, it is just a well-know way to disinfect without odor or residues.

I have a summer cottage with well water that sometimes develops a sulfurous smell.  Peroxide is often used in hot water tanks and water systems. Peroxide disinfects, and the byproduct is oxygen.  I dump a quart of peroxide into the water heater and it kills the sulfur bacteria and leaves the water odor free. Pretty cool, huh?

I'm interested in the essential oils that you use  - I didn't know you could do that.  Allergies are going to be a huge problem for me when I start cutting the grass again.  They are a big enough problem now along with dry, winter air.  What kind of oils and how much do you use?  Do you have any concerns with breathing the oil molecules through the humidifier all night?

(02-11-2018, 03:04 PM)Melman Wrote: I read the scientific studies at the 3B website. This product appears to be more effective than SoClean. The lab data are certainly more convincing. They demonstrated a 5 log reduction of resistant bacterial spores in well controlled studies. That is more overkill than would be required to sanitize CPAP equipment. To minimize the shadowing issue the interior of the chamber is highly polished aluminum which reflects UV light.  The machine is designed to accommodate a single mask or water chamber. It does not appear suitable for hoses. There are, however, some caveats.

In spite of the polished aluminum chamber I still see a problem with shadowing. The mask with headgear attached, for example, is placed in the chamber face up and rests on the bottom of the chamber. The UV light is at the top of the chamber and shines down. It seems the portions of the mask setting on the bottom of the chamber would block UV light and prevent it from being reflected back up against those surfaces. Also, they show the mask placed in the chamber with the headgear attached. It seems unlikely that the headgear would not result in some shadowing. Additionally, the interior of opaque tubular components such as hose connectors would probably not be fully exposed to the UV light.   Parts of the frames of some masks such as the AmaraView are not clear plastic and would also probably interfere with light transmission.

Santization of the water chamber is probably more effective as long as the opaque metal bottom is not placed against the aluminum interior of the chamber.

Although a 5 log kill of resistant spores was demonstrated the study report does not indicate that any worst case conditions were employed, which is generally a requirement for validation of sterilization and sanitization. The challenge spores were on stainless steel strips placed in the chamber with the masks and water chambers. The report does not say where they were placed. Placement on top of the items directly under the UV light would be much less of a challenge than under the mask or inside of the opaque hose connector, which would be worst case. Failure to place the challenge spores at worst case locations constitutes a serious flaw to the study. (If worst case site were used, I suspect it would have been mentioned in the report.)

Effectiveness of the system depends on the mirror finish of the aluminum chamber which they concede is easily scratched and requires special care. I would have concerns with how well it will hold up to routine use.

As with SoCean, the items to be sanitized must be cleaned before sanitization. I do credit 3B medical for being up front about this in their instructions and not implying their system cleans.

The bottom line is, for those that feel the need for a high level of sanitization, the 3B system appears to be more effective and safer than SoClean but may not sanitize some mask surfaces. It does not appear suitable for hoses which will require an additional method for sanitization. The cost of the machine is similar, about $300 but is probably less expensive to use since no disposables are required.

In my opinion as a microbiologist and CPAP user, this is another solution for which there is no need. Regular cleaning with mild detergent supplemented occasionally with a mild and inexpensive sanitizing agent is adequate to keep our equipment free of significant numbers of microorganisms. I clean my equipment less frequently then most on the forum and see no indication of significant microbial colonization.