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Sierra

Sierra
Joined Jul 2018
Bio

CPAP: AirSense 10 AutoSet

Set to CPAP Fixed Mode

Pressure 11 cm

Ramp: Auto

Ramp Start: 9 cm

EPR: 2, Full Time

Mask: ResMed AirFit P10 Nasal Pillow

Canada

Sierra
Joined Jul 2018
Bio

CPAP: AirSense 10 AutoSet

Set to CPAP Fixed Mode

Pressure 11 cm

Ramp: Auto

Ramp Start: 9 cm

EPR: 2, Full Time

Mask: ResMed AirFit P10 Nasal Pillow

Canada

"I'm trying to find out if the machine can only function as a BiPAP or also as a CPAP. Does anyone know for sure?"

To get back to your original question these steps should tell you for sure:

  1. Plug in your machine to power it up.

  2. Rotate the round knob until the Setup or wrench icon is highlighted.

  3. Hold the round button down and at the same time the ramp button a little below and to the right. Hold them both for more than 5 seconds until you hear a quick double beep. The Provider screen should appear.

  4. Rotate the round knob again until the Setup or wrench icon is highlighted. Press the knob to bring up the Provider Setup menu.

  5. The first item on the list should be the Mode. Rotate the knob to highlight the Mode line, and take note of what mode it is in. The manual is not totally clear on how to select options, but assuming it is similar to ResMed, you would press the button while the Mode line is highlighted, and it should either rotate through the various options, or bring up a list that you can select from by rotating the knob. Check to see if one of the options is CPAP. It it is there then your basic question is answered. If you want to make it operate like a CPAP press the knob again to select it.

  6. Rotate the knob to bring up the last option which should be Back which you would select to return to the Provider Menu. Rotate the know to highlight Exit, and then select that. That should take you right back out to the Patient menu. Then you can power down the machine.

Hope that works in definitely answering your question. And, like I posted before, even if you don't have the CPAP option, you should still be able to simulate that mode by using the BiLevel Mode.

There really is not all that much difference between a Bi-PAP and an CPAP in how it operates. With a Bi-PAP you are typically prescribed and set a EPAP (exhale) pressure. Then there is a Pressure Support setting. That is the amount of pressure you get extra on Inhale or IPAP. So for example if your EPAP pressure is set at 15 cm and Pressure Support at 3 cm you would have 18 cm on inhale and 15 cm on exhale. In the CPAP world (ResMed terms) you could get essentially the same thing if you set Pressure (which is really IPAP) at 18 cm, and then set the EPR at 3 cm. The end result is the same. 18 cm on inhale, and 15 cm on exhale.

The fundamental difference between a BiPAP and CPAP however is that while a CPAP is limited to 3 cm of EPR, the BiPAP can go higher in the split between EPAP and IPAP to as much as 10 cm. Also the maximum IPAP pressure that the machine is capable of is higher at 25 cm instead of the CPAP limit of 20 cm. There are also some more subtle features at least in the ResMed models which allow adjustment of how the machines decides to switch from IPAP to EPAP and back. The basic purpose of the Bi-PAP is to provide more breathing assistance than a standard CPAP can provide. That should not mean that you cannot dumb down the settings of a Bi-PAP to make it behave like a standard CPAP.

If your machine does not support a true fixed pressure CPAP mode, I'm sure it can be still set up to provide essentially the same thing. You would just set the minimum and maximum pressure limits to the same value or if forced to with a 0.2 cm difference -- which is essentially zero. I rather doubt you need a new machine. It just needs to be setup properly. That Provider Guide that I gave you a link to should allow you to do that. If you need help, post again, and I will have a closer look at the guide and let you know how I would set it up.

I found this statement in the user manual for the machine:

"Available Therapies The BiPAP Auto Bi-Flex device delivers the following therapies: • Bi-level – Provides one level of output pressure during EPAP (Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure) and a second higher level during IPAP (Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure). • Bi-level with Bi-Flex – Bi-level therapy with pressure relief upon exhalation to improve patient comfort based on patient needs. • Auto Bi-level – Delivers spontaneous Bi-level therapy while automatically adjusting EPAP and IPAP levels to meet the patient’s needs. • Auto Bi-level with Bi-Flex – Auto Bi-level therapy with pressure relief upon exhalation to improve patient comfort based on patient needs. The following therapy modes may also be available: • CPAP – Delivers Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; CPAP maintains a constant level of pressure throughout the breathing cycle. • CPAP with C-Flex – Delivers CPAP therapy with pressure relief upon exhalation to improve patient comfort based on patient needs."

It sounds like there may or may not be an option for CPAP. A true CPAP runs at a single fixed pressure. Are you sure that is what you want. The other option is an Auto CPAP or APAP. With that the pressure is adjusted to suit your pressure needs from minute to minute. In Auto Bi-Level mode it should operate similar to a APAP.

The link below is to the Provider Manual. If you go into the provider menu you should be able to see what modes your machine supports.

BiPAP Auto Bi-Flex PROVIDER GUIDE