The Patient at the Core of Our Efforts
Solutions for the patient mean so much more than diagnostics and the initiation of standard therapy. Every patient needs a specially-tailored examination method capable of obtaining medical information relevant to his case. This calls for a broad therapy spectrum that can satisfy all patient requirements. As a specialist in this area of medical technology for several decades, Weinmann has acquired extensive knowledge and has made a name for itself on the international market with its highquality products.

When products are referred to, Weinmann thinks beyond the individual devices or a piece of software. The company sees itself as a supplier of complete systems and solutions, which offer highly effective and innovative care concepts, customised to fulfil individual customer requirements. Whether it is sleep apnoea, chronic bronchitis or respiratory insufficiency, more and more people are suffering from serious respiratory disorders. Each of these diseases significantly reduces the quality of life of the individuals affected. They may suffer from fatigue, exhaustion, dyspnoea, depression and even circulatory disorders or stroke, all of which can drastically affect the patients’ day-to-day lives. At all times and almost everywhere around the world, people are being cared for and effectively treated with products made by Weinmann. In conjunction with their partners, Weinmann strives to achieve the best therapy results within a functioning network of patients, treating physicians and cost carriers. The patient is at the core of Weinmann’s effort as we believe that safety and quality of life are inseparable.

System Supplier Weinmann – Everything from a Single Source
Intelligent solutions lead to successful therapy concepts. Finely-tuned products, processes and adaptations are critical to the success of treatment. That is why it is important for Weinmann to know exactly what is needed by customers, treating physicians and their patients. The company has a sophisticated and perfectly synchronised product portfolio for sleep diagnosis and therapy, home mechanical ventilation and oxygen medicine. Their customers benefit from having a single reliable source with complete responsibility for all system components.

Owing to the company’s modular system, Weinmann delivers specially tailored and economical solutions for the individual patient and for medical specialists working in clinics and sleep labs. The company’s innovative solutions in titration, diagnostics and therapy – yield individual and economical systems that last supported by our network of certified dealers who provide dependable service for installation, maintenance and updates –

Weinmann’s focus is on the physician and patient to whom we offer a range of co-ordinated services:

• Therapy concepts – These range from different types of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to oxygen treatment and therapeutic concepts for home mechanical ventilation. Each patient receives the treatment he needs and the required device, including accessories. Weinmann puts special emphasis on high-quality connections between man and machine, referred to as ‘patient interface’. Among other things, the interface includes nasal and full face masks.
• Diagnosis concepts – We offer sleep medicine specialists with extensive know-how on sleep lab operations.
• Finances – Financing models are worked out for the entire spectrum, from individual leased devices to complete laboratory operations.
• Marketing – The internal department makes sure that their diagnostic and therapy services are effectively communicated to their target groups.
• Academy – The goal of the academy is to provide expert advanced training, certification and personal development. With an orientation towards practical training, the academy offers a series of seminars with content relevant to our target groups.
• Network – By keeping in close contact with physicians from a variety of medical specialities, we maintain a competent network that yields high-quality care for the benefit of all patients.

Added to this is Weinmann’s intense involvement in clinical research, represented by its clinical research and medical science area. Clinical studies are examined on selected medical topics with regard to their potential suitability for patients and other users.

These studies have to be of high quality. Innovations prompted by clinical research can be successfully implemented only when the evidence and recommendations can be proven. That is why national and international trade fairs, seminars and exchanges with experts are so important for us.

Weinmann is also very much interested in young scientists who have attracted attention through their commitment, ideas and innovations. We show our interest by awarding the Weinmann prize, which is designed to promote up-and-coming scientists working in sleep research and medicine, and also by giving additional grants to support those scientists.

We demand for the best possible quality making our presence felt in all areas of our business. Before new medical products can be launched, for example, quality management at Weinmann subjects them to a standardised, certified validation process. These tests guarantee the products’ efficiency and quality. Only then can a product become a useful part – e.g., a component in a sleep lab – of a complete solution.

Co-ordination of effort is most successful when both the product development and maintenance are in the hands of one party. This ensures that all parts of the system share the same level of quality. This is an important condition for working efficiently and achieving the best results, the right diagnosis and successful therapy.

Sleep Diagnosis

Tracking Down an Illness
Daytime sleepiness, productivity loss and cardiovascular ailments can be the consequences of disrupted sleep. Therefore, people who frequently have trouble falling asleep and sleeping through the night should see their doctor. Other causes can be ruled out with the help of the patient’s medical history, and tests and examinations such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), pulmonary function check and X-rays of the lungs. If the physician confirms his suspicion of a sleep-related respiratory disorder, the patient will be sent home with a mobile recording device for an overnight examination. The recording leads to a diagnosis of the most frequently occurring sleep-related respiratory disorder – obstructive sleep apnoea.

The patient is admitted to a sleep lab for an overnight stay, during which the mobile diagnosis is checked and therapy settings are made. Observations of the patient include the recording of apnoeas, an electroencephalogram (EEG) to determine sleep quality, and measurements of oxygen saturation of the blood, and leg movements. These parameters and others are later analysed and interpreted. Weinmann manages the entire process with the right devices and a software programme, ARTISANA, which supports sleep doctors in their demanding work. Integrated in Weinmann’s sleep lab system SOMNOlab, ARTISANA proved its worth in a study¹ conducted in six leading European sleep labs.

In order to comply with international polysomnographic standards, the company has added new parameters to its proven SOMNOcheck 2 polygraph. The additional electrophysiological channels of the new SOMNOcheck 2 R & K now allow for sleep stage identification according to Rechtschaffen and Kales.²