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Löwenstein prisma SMART max - Complete Guide 2026
The Löwenstein prisma SMART max is a premium Auto CPAP from the German manufacturer Löwenstein Medical. Less in the spotlight than ResMed or Philips, it is nonetheless highly regarded by users requiring higher pressures and by healthcare professionals looking for robust, precise technology. This guide presents its exclusive technologies, indications and what separates its two versions, plus and max.
Löwenstein Medical: German excellence in ventilation
Löwenstein Medical is a German family-owned group specialising in medical ventilation devices. It grew out of the Heinen company, founded in Bonn in 1929, which became Heinen + Löwenstein in 1986 and took the name Löwenstein Medical in 2017. Widely present in hospitals and intensive care units, it developed the Prisma range for sleep apnoea patients. The brand is recognised for the precision of its algorithms and the robustness of its devices.
Exclusive Technologies of the prisma SMART max
SoftPAP
SoftPAP technology lowers the pressure as soon as you start to breathe out and restores therapy pressure before the next breath in, so breathing out against the device takes less effort. It is Löwenstein's counterpart to EPR on ResMed and Flex on Philips. That means more comfort, especially at therapeutic pressures above 12 cmH₂O.
softSTART
The softSTART function raises pressure gradually at bedtime instead of delivering the full therapeutic pressure straight away, over a period adjustable from 5 to 45 minutes. Falling asleep is easier, especially when starting therapy or when the prescribed pressure is high.
Who is the prisma SMART max for?
The prisma SMART max is particularly suited to:
- Patients requiring higher therapeutic pressures (above 12-14 cmH₂O), where expiratory comfort becomes critical
- People sensitive to nocturnal pressure variations
- Users who have tried other devices without success and want to explore a different technology
- Clinicians seeking a finely configurable device with advanced detection algorithms
Technical Specifications
| Feature | prisma SMART plus | prisma SMART max |
|---|---|---|
| Löwenstein reference | LMT 31920 | LMT 31960 |
| Therapy mode | autoCPAP + fixed-pressure CPAP | autoCPAP + fixed-pressure CPAP |
| Pressure range | 4 to 20 cmH₂O | 4 to 20 cmH₂O |
| softPAP (exhalation relief) | Yes | Yes |
| softSTART | Yes, adjustable 5 to 45 min | Yes, adjustable 5 to 45 min |
| Bluetooth (prisma APP) | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in mobile modem (prisma CLOUD) | No | Yes |
| Airplane mode | No | Yes |
| Clinician software | prismaTS | prismaTS |
| Sound pressure level | approx. 26 dB(A) at 10 hPa | approx. 26 dB(A) at 10 hPa |
| Weight | 1.2 kg | 1.2 kg |
| Humidifier | Optional (prismaAQUA) | Optional (prismaAQUA) |
What the max version adds
Löwenstein offers the prisma SMART in two connected versions. Both deliver exactly the same therapy, 4 to 20 cmH₂O, in fixed CPAP or autoCPAP mode. The difference is entirely about connectivity:
- prisma SMART plus: built-in Bluetooth, for the prisma APP mobile application
- prisma SMART max: Bluetooth and a built-in mobile modem, for remote follow-up through prisma CLOUD, plus an airplane mode
Comparison with the other Auto CPAP devices
| Criterion | prisma SMART max | AirSense 11 AutoSet | DreamStation 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Löwenstein (Germany) | ResMed (Australia) | Philips (Netherlands) |
| Expiratory comfort | softPAP | EPR | Flex |
| Falling-asleep aid | softSTART | Ramp | Ramp Plus |
| Pressure range | 4 to 20 cmH₂O | 4 to 20 cmH₂O | 4 to 20 cmH₂O |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth and built-in cellular modem | Bluetooth and built-in modem | Bluetooth and built-in modem |
Order from VivaRespire
The prisma SMART max is available for direct purchase. Fast delivery to Belgium and across Europe.
See also
Frequently asked questions about Loewenstein prisma SMART max
Yes. Loewenstein Medical is a German family-owned manufacturer that grew out of the Heinen company, founded in Bonn in 1929, became Heinen + Löwenstein in 1986 and took the name Löwenstein Medical in 2017. It is present in hospitals and intensive care units across Europe. The brand is recognised for the precision of its algorithms and the mechanical robustness of its devices. The Prisma range equips many European sleep centres. Less known to the general public than ResMed or Philips, it offers an excellent alternative for demanding patients, especially those needing high pressures.
SoftPAP is Loewenstein's exhalation comfort technology. The pressure drops as soon as exhalation begins and returns to therapy pressure before the next breath in. It is Löwenstein's counterpart to ResMed's EPR and Philips' Flex: the three functions do the same job, and none is superior on paper. The benefit is especially marked at high therapeutic pressures above 12 cmH₂O, where expiratory comfort becomes critical for compliance.
From 4 to 20 cmH₂O, like the whole prisma SOFT and SMART range, and like most CPAP devices on the market, the AirSense 11 included. Above 20 cmH₂O you are no longer dealing with CPAP but with bilevel ventilation, which is a different class of device and needs a specialist prescription. Comfort at high pressures comes from softPAP, which lowers the pressure on every exhalation.
The prisma SMART max uses a standard 22 mm connector compatible with virtually all CPAP masks on the market. You can pair it with ResMed masks (AirFit N20, F20, P10, F40), Fisher & Paykel (Evora, Vitera), Philips (DreamWear) and all generic masks. Löwenstein also has its own masks, CARA, JULIA and JOYCEeasy, but nothing obliges you to use them. Broad compatibility remains one of the advantages of this brand.
Both are very quiet and the declared figures are almost identical. Löwenstein states approximately 26 dB(A) at 10 hPa for the prisma SMART max. ResMed states 27 dB(A) with an uncertainty of 2 dB(A) for the AirSense 11 fitted with the HumidAir 11 humidifier and SlimLine tubing, and 25 dB(A) with the side cover instead of the water tub. Both measurements follow ISO 80601-2-70. A gap of 1 to 2 dB is not audible, and we have no independent measurement comparing the two devices in the same bedroom, so we will not claim that either one is quieter.
The model can be prescribed under convention if the accredited sleep centre works with Loewenstein among its suppliers. But the INAMI convention is not a purchase reimbursement: the device remains the property of the centre, which chooses the assigned model based on its contracts. You cannot request a specific model. To own your Löwenstein device, out-of-convention direct purchase at VivaRespire remains the only option. See our page CPAP reimbursement in Belgium.
Yes. OSCAR (Open Source CPAP Analysis Reporter) lists "Prisma Smart" among its tested models. You extract the SD card from the device, insert it in your computer and OSCAR automatically reads the files. You can then see detailed residual AHI, leaks, pressure curves and respiratory events. Löwenstein also has its own software: prismaTS for professionals, and the prisma APP mobile application for patients, over Bluetooth.