Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

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dbillow
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Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by dbillow » Fri Jul 03, 2015 7:29 am

I have a three year old Respironics BiPap Pro with humidifier and full face Resmed Quattro mask. It's been working fine up until recently. About a week ago it began to stop intermittently during the night. Anywhere from about two hours to four hours into use, it will just stop for about 3-5 seconds and then resume working. Once this pattern begins it seems to continue intermittently until I shut the machine off completely and restart operation, then it will start the problem again at some point, usually within an hour or so. Very frustrating and it wakes me up constantly. I have tried cleaning the entire machine and humidifier, no good. So finally I removed the humidifier, and tried it without it. No intermittent stopping without the humidifier. But I need the moisture so cant go on like this. I've tried dismantling the entire humidifier and cleaning it, using an air duster in all the electronic connections on both the humidifier and the main unit. No love. It's actually getting worse.

Any ideas? Are there any settings I can play around with? I know how to get into the setup menu but I'm hesitant to change anything. It's out of warranty and my therapy provider wants $400 to have it fixed.

Thanks!

Don

JDS74
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by JDS74 » Fri Jul 03, 2015 7:56 am

Take a look at this thread:
[ur]viewtopic.php?f=1&t=102275&p=959965&hil ... ir#p959965[/url]

It may be a problem in the connection between the main blower unit and the humidifier.
The unit shown is a 50 series but I had the same problem as shown with my 60 series ASV machine.
I was fortunate to be still under warranty and mine was replaced.
Yours is two years out of warranty so there are a couple of choices:

1) Take it apart and, if the problem is the same, attempt a repair. The risk here is that you will mess things up to the point of needing a replacement blower unit.

2) Purchase an external humidifier like the Fisher-Paykel HC150 for about $150. This may require significant layers of insulation on the hose to inhibit rain-out. I used 3 layers of fleece fabric from Jo-Ann's and it did do well.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... ifier.html

3) If you can get a backup unit, send yours off the ACCBIO for repair. Pretty sure that their cost will be less than $400 but you could call them and ask. It's likely that the repair would be the replacement of the mother board in the main unit.
Accurate Biomed Services
4) Purchase a gently used machine from one of the posters on this board. One should be available for less than the $400 repair cost estimate. That would give you a backup machine and make attempting a repair much less risky.

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yaconsult
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by yaconsult » Fri Jul 03, 2015 10:52 am

Please fill in the equipment section of your profile so people know what equipment you are using.

I do not have any experience with the bipap models but my 550P suffered from the well known "missing screw" problem. The symptom was that it would beep several times and turn off the air and show an error on the screen. Then it would turn back on again and the cycle would repeat.

I posted about it here but it would only apply if your machine was one of the models that removed the screw from the design: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=106093&st=0&sk=t&sd ... sing+screw

The cpap machines usually record error messages in a file on the sd card but they are in a binary format, undocumented, and hard to interpret. There is at least one thread in the forum about doing so.

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Julie
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by Julie » Fri Jul 03, 2015 11:03 am

As an emergency plan til you find the answer, put a cup of water right behind the air intake on the machine - it'll help moisturize the air you do get.

dbillow
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by dbillow » Sat Jul 04, 2015 8:55 am

I opened up the main blower unit and there were no electrical issues as some of the posts suggested there might be. I did tighten up the white connector which was slightly loose. We'll see how things go tonight. Thanks to all for your replies and suggestions.

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css28
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by css28 » Sat Jul 04, 2015 2:54 pm

I think the "missing screw" is a red herring. The upper case in my machine has a projection that holds the card when all is assembled.

That being said, the System One 50-series has proven to be a little flaky over time.

My current solution is a new 460 that I bought through Craigslist for $300.

An alternative (if removing the attached humidifier truly cures your problem) is a separate humidifier. If you have the space I recommend a simple pass-over (unheated) model. I'm using an old Respironics Oasis model and it significantly muffles the machine noise transmitted through the hose.
Last edited by css28 on Sat Jul 04, 2015 3:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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palerider
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by palerider » Sat Jul 04, 2015 3:00 pm

css28 wrote:I think the "missing screw" is a red herring. The upper case in my machine has a projection that holds the card when all is assembled.
which begs the question... if the design of the 50 series was good enough, why did they change that aspect of it in the 60 series? typically, companies try to *reduce* costs in redesigns, not increase them.

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css28
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by css28 » Sat Jul 04, 2015 3:13 pm

palerider wrote:
css28 wrote:I think the "missing screw" is a red herring. The upper case in my machine has a projection that holds the card when all is assembled.
which begs the question... if the design of the 50 series was good enough, why did they change that aspect of it in the 60 series? typically, companies try to *reduce* costs in redesigns, not increase them.
True enough. It very well may address a known issue.
I guess it's a simple enough, cheap thing to try so there's no harm in suggesting it.

For my machine it didn't alter its behavior a bit.

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palerider
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by palerider » Sat Jul 04, 2015 3:57 pm

css28 wrote:
palerider wrote:
css28 wrote:I think the "missing screw" is a red herring. The upper case in my machine has a projection that holds the card when all is assembled.
which begs the question... if the design of the 50 series was good enough, why did they change that aspect of it in the 60 series? typically, companies try to *reduce* costs in redesigns, not increase them.
True enough. It very well may address a known issue.
I guess it's a simple enough, cheap thing to try so there's no harm in suggesting it.

For my machine it didn't alter its behavior a bit.
for that, I'm sorry... did you remove the board and then reseat the connections to the air plenum?

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css28
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by css28 » Sat Jul 04, 2015 6:34 pm

Oh yes.

I also exercised the various electrical connectors and applied dielectric grease to avoid oxidation.

The plenum connections seem quite compliant. They seem as if a little deflection wouldn't cause a problem.

My machine's problem is that it intermittently will have trouble starting first try. It will do 2 or 3 reboot cycles and if it still hasn't started then will flash the ramp button and give up.

A cold reboot from that resets the routine. Half the time it starts like normal. Totally random as far as I can see.

Anyhow, 15 20's given to a stranger at a Biggby Coffee got me a new machine and the other will serve as my spare.

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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by grayghost4 » Sat Jul 04, 2015 7:15 pm

I usually do my transactions at Starbucks
If you're not part of the solution you're just scumming up the bottom of the beaker!

Get the Clinicians manual here : http://apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-press ... tup-manual

dbillow
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by dbillow » Sun Jul 05, 2015 6:40 am

Well the intermittent stopping issue continued last night. I noticed that if I set the humidifier on 1 or 2 it happens less. I also noticed that the AC adapter was very warm this morning, almost hot. Could it be the motherboard going bad? Also, is there anyway to update the firmware on this unit? Thanks

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Morbius
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by Morbius » Sun Jul 05, 2015 7:06 am

Check to make sure there isn't a broken wire in the power supply, especially at the elbow where it plugs into to the machine, and that it is putting out volts (10 - 18 VDC).

Did you query the error log?

What firmware version do you have?

dbillow
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by dbillow » Sun Jul 05, 2015 7:27 am

I'll check the wiring. How do I get the firmware version and error log?

Thanks

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Morbius
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Re: Respironics BiPap Pro Stops intermittently

Post by Morbius » Sun Jul 05, 2015 8:38 am

Firmware version appears on startup.

To get the error codes you could try the .004 method:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=91178&p=843803&hili ... ed#p843803

(I have not used that method, but you need an HxD reader)

or find somebody with the code reader software and interface cable (DME or fixit place)