The second COVID-19 wave is impacting a number of European markets and, given our understanding of the role that respiratory devices play during this period, we are taking several measures to ensure the continuous supply of products to meet patient need.
As a manufacturer of respiratory devices and equipment, we have put processes and policies in place that maximise the availability of our equipment. We are closely monitoring demand vs. stock in Europe, and have the manufacturing capacity to react rapidly if there are sudden changes in this landscape. Following the first wave, we are maintaining high levels of stock of COVID-19-consolidated device product codes for Europe. We have also increased our safety stock of NV masks and critical accessories, all of which saw increased demand during the initial COVID-19 wave.
For a small number of items (specific Astral circuit configurations), we continue to face backorders, as our suppliers have not been able to catch up since the initial outbreak and subsequent increase in demand. In the meantime, we continue to source alternative items where applicable in order to provide solutions for our customers.

In an attempt to ensure the adequate supply of our products to patients across Europe, maintain continuity of care throughout the region, and ensure our readiness should demand increase, we will be monitoring all orders placed with us and reserve the right to phase the shipment of requested quantities until further notice. Since the first COVID-19 outbreaks in Europe, ResMed has been prioritising the repair of, among other items, ventilators in service centres to have as many units as possible available for hospitals and patients.

In order to facilitate the best possible supply of our products, having an early indication of larger volumes needed for the next few weeks will be essential in managing our manufacturing capacities. Our objective is to maintain continuity of care across countries, so we will be monitoring and prioritizing all orders being placed. To this end, we may part fulfil orders of requested quantities where necessary.

In this case we ask you to approach your ResMed representative in order for them to centralize your different needs.

All ventilator orders are currently being monitored in order for us to allocate them across the European and the Middle East regions. Consequently, we have implemented a biweekly allocation process. Your order could be split into several deliveries which could phased over a period of time. In order to have a fair allocation process delivery volumes are being allocated very late in the process, and will be shipped for the next coming days.

To ensure an efficient process, unfortunately we are not able to give any advance delivery notification. However, all orders are kept in our system and fulfilled as soon as we have available stock. We are doing everything we can to ship as many orders as possible each day.

For customers that currently receive order acknowledgements:

All ventilator and range of accessories orders are currently being monitored to allow us to allocate them across the European and the Middle East regions. To maintain this, all ventilators are shown as backorders on your order acknowledgment. So as to have a fair allocation system, delivery volumes are being allocated very late in the process, to be shipped for the next coming days.

To ensure an efficient process, we are not able to send any advance delivery notification. However, if you have received a partial delivery and would like to confirm the number of outstanding items in an order, please contact our customer service team. All outstanding orders or part-orders are kept in our system and will be reviewed during the next biweekly allocation process.

For non-ventilator products, backorders are shown on the order acknowledgment as normal. ResMed is fulfilling all backorders as soon as stock becomes available and our warehouses are working very hard to fulfil orders daily. We are aware that for some countries there are transport delays due to congestions at borders; rest assured, we are working tirelessly to keep goods flowing.

All orders are kept in our system and dealt with as quickly as possible.

For customers that currently do not receive order acknowledgements:

All ventilator and range of accessories orders are currently being monitored to allow us to allocate them across the European and the Middle East regions. So as to have a fair allocation system, delivery volumes are being allocated very late in the process, to be shipped for the next coming days.

To ensure an efficient process, we are not able to send any backorder notifications or advance delivery notification. However, if you have received a partial delivery and would like to confirm the number of outstanding items in an order, please contact our customer service team. All outstanding orders or part-orders are kept in our system and will be reviewed during next the biweekly allocation process.

For non-ventilator products, backorders are fulfilled as soon as we have available stock. Again, to ensure process efficiency, we are not able to give any backorder notifications or advance delivery notification.

ResMed is fulfilling all backorders as soon as stock becomes available. Our warehouses are working very hard to fulfil orders daily. We know that for some countries there are transport delays due to congestions at borders; rest assured, we are working tirelessly to keep goods flowing.

All orders are kept in our system and dealt with as quickly as possible.

All ResMed ventilators are manufactured and assembled in Sydney and Singapore, and are safe for use.

Yes, all Chinese-made components for ResMed products are safe for use, and all components received at a ResMed manufacturing facility go through rigorous safety, cleanliness, and quality checks before manufacturing – processes designed to safeguard against such health threats as COVID-19.

In an effort to maximise our supply capacities and minimise our lead times, we are currently reducing the complexity of our product offering. We strive to seek your agreement on changes to your orders, before they are processed. If you have further questions about your specific order, please contact your local ResMed customer service team.

In an effort to maximise our supply capacities and minimise our lead times, we are currently reducing the complexity of our product offering. We strive to seek your agreement on changes to your orders, before they are processed. If you have further questions about your specific order, please contact your local ResMed customer service team.

Astral and Stellar are able to entrain supplemental oxygen through the device via an oxygen port. These devices are designed to be compatible with supplemental oxygen up to a level of 30 L/min.

Lumis devices are compatible with supplemental oxygen of up to 4 L/min in iVAPS mode, or up to
15 L/min in all other modes.

At a fixed rate of supplemental oxygen flow, the inhaled oxygen concentration will vary depending on the ventilation mode and settings, patient breathing pattern, mask selection, and leak rate.

FiO2

Astral:

When an adult patient is using a non-vented circuit (double limb and single limb with valve, invasive and non invasive), almost 100% FiO2 can be achieved with an additional 30L/min of supplemental oxygen and more than 80% FiO2 can be achieved with an additional 15L/min of supplemental oxygen.

Stellar:

When adding 30L/min of supplemental oxygen, more than 90% FiO2 can be achieved if there is no leak, and almost 80% with a leak of 20L/min.

Astral and Stellar

 To add supplemental oxygen, please follow the instructions below:

1. Unlock the low flow oxygen inlet at the rear of the device by pushing up on the locking clip.
2. Insert one end of the oxygen supply tubing into the oxygen port connector. The tubing will automatically lock into place.
3. Attach the other end of the oxygen supply tubing to the oxygen supply.
4. Start ventilation.
5. Turn on oxygen and adjust (at the oxygen supply) to the prescribed flow rate or FiO2 level.

For Astral devices:

For Stellar devices:

To remove supplemental oxygen:

 Before you remove supplemental oxygen from the device, ensure the oxygen supply has been turned off.

1. Unlock the low flow oxygen inlet at the rear of the device by pushing up on the locking clip.
2. Remove the oxygen port connector from the low flow oxygen inlet.

A low pressure oxygen connector (product code: 24971) is needed to connect the low flow oxygen inlet to the oxygen supply tubing. Please see below.

Lumis

To connect supplemental oxygen to Lumis devices, you can either use a ClimateLineAir Oxy tube or an oxygen connector port. For more information on how to set up the device with supplemental oxygen, refer to the user guide supplied with the accessory you choose to use.

Please note:

• Adding oxygen may affect the delivered pressure and accuracy of the displayed and reported values (e.g. leak, minute ventilation and AHI).
• Always make sure that the device is on, and airflow generated, before the oxygen supply is turned on. Always switch off the oxygen supply before turning off the device. Unused oxygen can accumulate within the device enclosure and presents a fire hazard.

Information about cleaning and disinfecting the external device surfaces can be found in the clinical guide. However, as COVID-19 is a novel virus, specific decontamination methods have not yet been validated.

In addition, patients should follow ResMed’s cleaning procedures, as outlined in the user guide.

We recognise that many of you have concerns regarding orders, supply and shipment in light of the coronavirus pandemic, and we are committed to providing regularly updated information to our customers across the globe. To help ensure our communications reach the community as soon as possible, we have created a dedicated COVID-19 FAQ page, which will be updated as and when new information becomes available to us.

For any further questions, please contact your local customer or sales representative.