Prisma Ventilator 30C BiPAP Invasive and Non-Invasive Ventilation - Ot

Choosing the Right Long-Term Ventilator for Home Discharge

A Practical Comparison for Hospitals, Procurement Teams, and Discharge Planners

Discharging a patient on long-term ventilation is never just about equipment. It’s about continuity of care, reliability at home, and minimizing readmissions.

At SleepEZ Home Health, we work closely with hospital procurement departments, discharge nurses, and social workers to ensure that ventilator selection supports real-world home use, not just in-hospital performance.

Two devices frequently considered in discharge planning are the Prisma VENT30-C by Löwenstein Medical and the Astral family from ResMed.

Both are clinically capable. But they are designed with different care pathways in mind and that distinction matters once the patient leaves your facility.

Why ventilator choice impacts discharge success

From a hospital perspective, the “right” ventilator is the one that:

Works reliably in a home environment
Is manageable for caregivers, not just clinicians
Supports mobility and transport
Has predictable battery behavior
Minimizes urgent returns to hospital due to equipment issues

This is where spec sheets alone fall short and where design philosophy becomes critical.

Prisma VENT30-C: engineered for long-term home ventilation

The prisma VENT30-C is designed first and foremost as a long-term home ventilator that can also function across outpatient and transitional care environments.

What stands out in real-world use

1. Compact and lightweight

At approximately 2.4 kg, Prisma is meaningfully lighter than many hybrid ventilators. For patients discharged to home, this reduces:

Wheelchair mounting strain
Transport fatigue
Risk of drops or connector stress

2. Pressure range aligned with most home patients

With a therapeutic range up to 30 cmH₂O, prisma comfortably covers the majority of long-term home ventilation needs without adding complexity or excess mechanical stress.

3. Integrated battery designed for independence

The optional internal battery is documented to deliver over 10 hours of runtime under defined conditions which is a major advantage during:

Power outages
Community transport
Extended clinic visits

Importantly, the battery is built into the system, not dependent on multiple external accessories.

4. Built for continuity of care

Through Löwenstein’s ecosystem (PRISMACloud), clinicians can review therapy data and adjust parameters remotely when appropriate. This reduces unnecessary hospital visits and supporting community-based care models.

Astral: a powerful hospital-to-home bridge

The Astral platform is well respected and widely deployed, particularly in institutional and mixed-care environments.

Its strengths include:

Higher maximum pressure capability (up to 50 cmH₂O)
Broad published ventilation mode availability
Strong integration into hospital respiratory workflows
Expandable external battery options

For patients with very high pressure requirements or those transitioning between ICU, ward, and home, Astral can be an excellent choice.

However, for many long-term home patients, these capabilities may exceed what is realistically needed, while adding size, weight, and system complexity.

Humidification: a hidden cost that matters after discharge

Humidification is often treated as an accessory decision — until the patient is home.

For long-term ventilation, humidification impacts:

Patient comfort and adherence
Electrical load in the home
Number of devices, cables, and failure points
Ongoing costs for caregivers and institutions

This is a meaningful distinction between platforms.

The prisma VENT30-C supports integrated humidification within the prisma system, allowing humidification without relying on a separate external device.

By contrast, the Astral requires external humidification, which:

Adds another powered device
Increases electricity consumption
Adds tubing, connectors, and setup complexity
Increases long-term cost of ownership

For home discharge, fewer powered components generally means simpler care and fewer points of failure.

Decision flow: helping teams choose efficiently

For Discharge Nurses & Social Workers

Ask these questions:

Will the patient or caregiver need to move this device regularly?
Is the home environment prone to power interruptions?
Is follow-up care happening remotely or across long distances?

If the answer is “yes” to any of the above, a lighter device with longer integrated battery runtime and remote monitoring often leads to smoother discharges and fewer urgent calls.

For Procurement Departments

Start here:

Does the patient require pressures above 30 cmH₂O?
Yes → Astral may be required
No → Continue
Is long-term home use with mobility a priority?
Yes → prisma VENT30-C is typically preferred
Is minimizing accessory dependence and service complexity important?
Yes → prisma VENT30-C

Inquire Today

prisma VENT30-C vs ResMed Astral (100/150)

Objective comparison designed for hospital procurement, discharge planners, and long-term home ventilation programs.

Category	Löwenstein prisma VENT30-C	ResMed Astral (100 / 150)
Primary design focus	Long-term home ventilation with mobility and system simplicity	Hospital-to-home and institutional ventilation platform
Weight (device only)	2.4 kg	3.2 kg
Pressure capability	IPAP up to 30 cmH₂O	Up to 50 cmH₂O
Humidification	Integrated humidification within prisma system No separate powered humidifier required	External humidifier required Adds separate device, power consumption, tubing, and setup complexity
Battery strategy	Optional integrated internal battery >10 hours documented runtime (test conditions)	Internal battery (~8h typical) + external batteries for extension
Mobility & home handling	Compact footprint, fewer accessories, fewer cables	Larger footprint with accessory-dependent configuration
Electrical load at home	Single integrated system reduces overall power draw	Ventilator + external humidifier increase electricity use
Remote oversight	Supported via prisma monitoring ecosystem	Supported via ResMed clinical platforms