eFlow vs. Altera

G

Giggles

New member
I sooooo agree with this whole Altera Vs TRIO it makes me LIVID! I feel like the makers are just trying to get more money! I mean okay if and that is a big if the holes are different on the metal heads then why can we not AT LEAST use the same blue controller! I asked that to the pharm and they said no. How much easier would it be to use different nebs but same controller OR even easier to switch out the metal heads. Cause the plastic pieces for the TRIO and Alterra look exactly the same to me as does the metal heads but granted I can not see the holes on the heads. UGH. I also do not like the fact that the TRIO makes me wait too for 3 months before a new head! I mean my TRIO head lasts maybe a week or so doing well and then it is up to 10-13 minutes to do Albuterol and Colistin. Which granted is still better than in the Pari LC Plus but when I know what the TRIO CAN do when working properly it makes me mad! I only do Albuterol and Colistin in the TRIO cause HTS and Pulmozyme clogged the head even worse. And I am SUPER diligent about cleaning the head and disinfectin properly but still the TRIO head is not that good after a week or so. Wish, Wish I can get a new head with each order of Colistin!!!!

I am so with you all that is all comes down to money! Profits are greater for producing the Alterra. I mean a new neb for each drug that comes out! TOTAL pain now I am using the TRIO, ALterra and Pari LC Plus with compressor. I mean my room I use to do meds looks like a surgical room. Plus to clean the metal heads I gotta use Distilled water for the TRIO and regular water for the Alterra. Oh jeez.

On the bright side I am glad there are drugs for us and more in the pipeline and so far so good for me on Cayston although it has only been one day, ha ha!

But I feel all your pain!

Jennifer 38 with CF and CFRD
 
G

Giggles

New member
I sooooo agree with this whole Altera Vs TRIO it makes me LIVID! I feel like the makers are just trying to get more money! I mean okay if and that is a big if the holes are different on the metal heads then why can we not AT LEAST use the same blue controller! I asked that to the pharm and they said no. How much easier would it be to use different nebs but same controller OR even easier to switch out the metal heads. Cause the plastic pieces for the TRIO and Alterra look exactly the same to me as does the metal heads but granted I can not see the holes on the heads. UGH. I also do not like the fact that the TRIO makes me wait too for 3 months before a new head! I mean my TRIO head lasts maybe a week or so doing well and then it is up to 10-13 minutes to do Albuterol and Colistin. Which granted is still better than in the Pari LC Plus but when I know what the TRIO CAN do when working properly it makes me mad! I only do Albuterol and Colistin in the TRIO cause HTS and Pulmozyme clogged the head even worse. And I am SUPER diligent about cleaning the head and disinfectin properly but still the TRIO head is not that good after a week or so. Wish, Wish I can get a new head with each order of Colistin!!!!
<br />
<br />I am so with you all that is all comes down to money! Profits are greater for producing the Alterra. I mean a new neb for each drug that comes out! TOTAL pain now I am using the TRIO, ALterra and Pari LC Plus with compressor. I mean my room I use to do meds looks like a surgical room. Plus to clean the metal heads I gotta use Distilled water for the TRIO and regular water for the Alterra. Oh jeez.
<br />
<br />On the bright side I am glad there are drugs for us and more in the pipeline and so far so good for me on Cayston although it has only been one day, ha ha!
<br />
<br />But I feel all your pain!
<br />
<br />Jennifer 38 with CF and CFRD
 
K

Keepercjr

Guest
Jennifer - You can use either controller. I use the trio controller for both tobra and cayston because my daughter broke the battery housing for the altera.

I spent about an hour online earlier today looking for ANYTHING that would tell me the difference between the 2 devices. I found this PDF that said they were identical in purpose, function, core technology, basic design, materials and method of operation. They make reference to drug specific testing between the 2 but I can't find it online anywhere (AZLI New Drug Application).
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf10/K100380.pdf
">http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/...ocs/pdf10/K100380.pdf
</a>
The big BUT is that they are customizable to the drugs and the drugs are customizable for the device (so they can create a whole new "device" for each med). For example they can change the droplet size via the metal head, the medication reservoir, etc. So I'm leaning towards believing that there could be a difference in the metal heads. But I'm not 100% convinced. Show us the data! (or at least make it available). There is NO data online about droplet size or metal head specifics. And I have no idea how to get that data. It is way more profitable for the company to have a different comlete "system" for each medication rather than just a different metal head or handset if need be. It is hard to trust the word of anyone (doctor, rep) if there there isn't any way to back it up when you question it.

Add to it the difference in cleaning instructions. Very strange for an identical product. I can't say I do anything different between the 2 and I hate to admit but I'm not as vigilant as the instructions want me to be though I do at the very least rinse immediately after the neb is finished.
 
K

Keepercjr

Guest
Jennifer - You can use either controller. I use the trio controller for both tobra and cayston because my daughter broke the battery housing for the altera.

I spent about an hour online earlier today looking for ANYTHING that would tell me the difference between the 2 devices. I found this PDF that said they were identical in purpose, function, core technology, basic design, materials and method of operation. They make reference to drug specific testing between the 2 but I can't find it online anywhere (AZLI New Drug Application).
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf10/K100380.pdf
">http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/...ocs/pdf10/K100380.pdf
</a>
The big BUT is that they are customizable to the drugs and the drugs are customizable for the device (so they can create a whole new "device" for each med). For example they can change the droplet size via the metal head, the medication reservoir, etc. So I'm leaning towards believing that there could be a difference in the metal heads. But I'm not 100% convinced. Show us the data! (or at least make it available). There is NO data online about droplet size or metal head specifics. And I have no idea how to get that data. It is way more profitable for the company to have a different comlete "system" for each medication rather than just a different metal head or handset if need be. It is hard to trust the word of anyone (doctor, rep) if there there isn't any way to back it up when you question it.

Add to it the difference in cleaning instructions. Very strange for an identical product. I can't say I do anything different between the 2 and I hate to admit but I'm not as vigilant as the instructions want me to be though I do at the very least rinse immediately after the neb is finished.
 
K

Keepercjr

Guest
Jennifer - You can use either controller. I use the trio controller for both tobra and cayston because my daughter broke the battery housing for the altera.
<br />
<br />I spent about an hour online earlier today looking for ANYTHING that would tell me the difference between the 2 devices. I found this PDF that said they were identical in purpose, function, core technology, basic design, materials and method of operation. They make reference to drug specific testing between the 2 but I can't find it online anywhere (AZLI New Drug Application).
<br /><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf10/K100380.pdf
">http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/...ocs/pdf10/K100380.pdf
</a><br />
<br />The big BUT is that they are customizable to the drugs and the drugs are customizable for the device (so they can create a whole new "device" for each med). For example they can change the droplet size via the metal head, the medication reservoir, etc. So I'm leaning towards believing that there could be a difference in the metal heads. But I'm not 100% convinced. Show us the data! (or at least make it available). There is NO data online about droplet size or metal head specifics. And I have no idea how to get that data. It is way more profitable for the company to have a different comlete "system" for each medication rather than just a different metal head or handset if need be. It is hard to trust the word of anyone (doctor, rep) if there there isn't any way to back it up when you question it.
<br />
<br />Add to it the difference in cleaning instructions. Very strange for an identical product. I can't say I do anything different between the 2 and I hate to admit but I'm not as vigilant as the instructions want me to be though I do at the very least rinse immediately after the neb is finished.
 
C

cf4life

New member
I use the altera controller for both, and have been for months. I see no reason to keep both available and plugged in.

I agree on paper it sounds nice that they can control the medication delivery with the head. This makes a lot of business sense for Pari. Each medication gets a custom head. I think this is the wrong way of doing things. The medication should be formulated for the device, not the device for the medication.
 
C

cf4life

New member
I use the altera controller for both, and have been for months. I see no reason to keep both available and plugged in.

I agree on paper it sounds nice that they can control the medication delivery with the head. This makes a lot of business sense for Pari. Each medication gets a custom head. I think this is the wrong way of doing things. The medication should be formulated for the device, not the device for the medication.
 
C

cf4life

New member
I use the altera controller for both, and have been for months. I see no reason to keep both available and plugged in.
<br />
<br />I agree on paper it sounds nice that they can control the medication delivery with the head. This makes a lot of business sense for Pari. Each medication gets a custom head. I think this is the wrong way of doing things. The medication should be formulated for the device, not the device for the medication.
 
S

serendipidousday

New member
Caroline, you are correct in that it is ONLY the head that is different. All the other pieces of the device are identical. I have no clue why they have different cleaning instructions; I just use the Altera instructions for both the Trio and Altera and I haven't had any problems. The differences in the heads are the particle sizes. I'm going to see if I can find information about the sizes of the holes (I have an inside connection) and post it to the list.

The idea, as explained to me, is that if every medication has a head custom-made for it, the amount of medication getting into the lungs can be optimized and less medication can be used, which will reduce the overall cost to insurance companies.

Hope this helps!

Molly
22 w/CF
 
S

serendipidousday

New member
Caroline, you are correct in that it is ONLY the head that is different. All the other pieces of the device are identical. I have no clue why they have different cleaning instructions; I just use the Altera instructions for both the Trio and Altera and I haven't had any problems. The differences in the heads are the particle sizes. I'm going to see if I can find information about the sizes of the holes (I have an inside connection) and post it to the list.

The idea, as explained to me, is that if every medication has a head custom-made for it, the amount of medication getting into the lungs can be optimized and less medication can be used, which will reduce the overall cost to insurance companies.

Hope this helps!

Molly
22 w/CF
 
S

serendipidousday

New member
Caroline, you are correct in that it is ONLY the head that is different. All the other pieces of the device are identical. I have no clue why they have different cleaning instructions; I just use the Altera instructions for both the Trio and Altera and I haven't had any problems. The differences in the heads are the particle sizes. I'm going to see if I can find information about the sizes of the holes (I have an inside connection) and post it to the list.
<br />
<br />The idea, as explained to me, is that if every medication has a head custom-made for it, the amount of medication getting into the lungs can be optimized and less medication can be used, which will reduce the overall cost to insurance companies.
<br />
<br />Hope this helps!
<br />
<br />Molly
<br />22 w/CF
 
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