Help with figuring out leak rate

[dave01978]

Ok I got this machine on monday, finally made it thru the night without taking it off after 3-4.5 hrs, I just got software and was looking at the leak rate, and not sure how to tell if it is good or not

mask is resmed mirage quattro full face mask, pressure on cpap is 12 the mask manual shows for that pressure flow rate of 41 (I have no clue on this part yet, still learning) The software shows 11.5 AHI is 2.5 (which i am asuming is pretty good)

What else should i be looking at in the software?

Thanks,
Dave

[KatieW]

janknitz has a blog at maskarrayed.wordpress.com which explains Respironics data.

[avi123]

mask is resmed mirage quattro full face mask, pressure on cpap is 12 the mask manual shows for that pressure flow rate of 41 (I have no clue on this part yet, still learning) The software shows 11.5 AHI is 2.5 (which i am asuming is pretty good)

As I understand it, the data in the mask tables are for the passive venting flow (thru the holes in the mask). For proper operation you need air flows greater than these. Mask leakage is the extra air flow above the indicated passive venting in the table. The acceptable mask leakage is below 0.4 L/S (24 L/Min). Total air flow thru the CPAP machine is the total of the two: 41 L/Min + 24 L/Min = 65 L/Min, at the 12 mm H2O, at least. If the type of mask, in this case, is entered into a CPAP machine then it might deduct the 41 L/Min from the total flow and indicate the Leak flow.

More info:

http://smart-sleep-apnea.blogspot.com/2 ... blems.html

[cflame1]

leak rate for Respironics is different than leak rate for Resmeds (S8 and below, can't speak to S9's)... Respironics is determined using the actual leak rate... Resmeds (S8 and below) use the unintentional leak rate (the leak rate less the intended leak rate for the mask chosen).