New PR S1 BiPAP Auto 60 Series. Where to start

I just picked up a PR S1 BiPAP Auto 60 Series w/biflex with 116 hours, and thought I'd give it a try. I've been using 11 - 14 auto with 1 Aflex on s Series 60 Auto. My AHI is not bad, and ranges from 1 to 3 most nights (average 1.5) with mostly CA at this point, but after 7 years of use, I have never achieved the elusive zero AHI.

I've detached the machine from the heated humidifier it came with and joined it to my existing one with a heated hose. It immediately detected the change and is using the 15mm heated hose. I have set max IPAP at 18.0 and min EPAP at 8 on auto-biflex, biflex set to 1. I don't know what to set min and max PS (Pressure Support) at and could use some ideas. Ramp is 5 minutes starting at 8.0. I swapped my SD card into the BiPAP, and assume it will append new date....I dunno?

We'll call this an experiment, and I might change my avatar to Guinea Pig. I'm interested in feedback, especially those who have used bilevel machines, on what to expect, and some pointers on fine-tuning. My objective in this is to fine tune the BiPAP and see if it results in an improvement in comfort and/or AHI. I'll hold on to the Auto and decide which one to sell later. The Auto 60 series still only has 580 hours. After owning just a M-Series Auto for 7 years with nearly 20K hours on it, I have a wealth of newer modern equipment, and I've taken a new interest in fine-tuning thanks to Sleepyhead and the forum. I had kind of lost interest for a number of years.

Sleeprider wrote:I just picked up a PR S1 BiPAP Auto 60 Series w/biflex with 116 hours, and thought I'd give it a try. I've been using 11 - 14 auto with 1 Aflex on s Series 60 Auto. My AHI is not bad, and ranges from 1 to 3 most nights (average 1.5) with mostly CA at this point, but after 7 years of use, I have never achieved the elusive zero AHI.

I've detached the machine from the heated humidifier it came with and joined it to my existing one with a heated hose. It immediately detected the change and is using the 15mm heated hose. I have set max IPAP at 18.0 and min EPAP at 8 on auto-biflex, biflex set to 1. I don't know what to set min and max PS (Pressure Support) at and could use some ideas. Ramp is 5 minutes starting at 8.0. I swapped my SD card into the BiPAP, and assume it will append new date....I dunno?

We'll call this an experiment, and I might change my avatar to Guinea Pig. I'm interested in feedback, especially those who have used bilevel machines, on what to expect, and some pointers on fine-tuning. My objective in this is to fine tune the BiPAP and see if it results in an improvement in comfort and/or AHI. I'll hold on to the Auto and decide which one to sell later. The Auto 60 series still only has 580 hours. After owning just a M-Series Auto for 7 years with nearly 20K hours on it, I have a wealth of newer modern equipment, and I've taken a new interest in fine-tuning thanks to Sleepyhead and the forum. I had kind of lost interest for a number of years.

If it were me, I think I'd set the EPAP at 11 and the IPAP at 14 or 15 (straight Bi-PAP) for the first experiment. Maybe the Bi-Flex setting to 1. I wouldn't think you'd need Ramp after all these years.

Basically, "keep it simple".

Can't tell you about swapping the SD card, but from what I've read the PR machines will establish a new data folder for different machines.

Good luck.

Den

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Thanks Den. Good input. Any thoughts on pressure support. I honestly don't even know what that does.

Mine is set to Bipap 15/11 not auto bipap, and I didn't have the PS settings show up on the screen, so I think that is used just on the auto bipap. I do have biflex at 3 and I'm comfortable with it there. I think I would try like Den said straight Bipap and if you weren't using ramp before why start now?

Quote: Any thoughts on pressure support

That set the difference between epap and ipap ... with epap set at 8 and a min of 2 ... and a max of 4 ... that will start with ipap at 10 and allow it to increase to 12 before it will raise the epap

I have reset to straight BiPAP 11/14 Biflex 1, ramp off. PS settings went away as suggested by OkyDoky. That should be pretty straightforward for now. It will be interesting to see the results tomorrow.

If you havent .. you should download the clinicians manual

Sleeprider wrote:Thanks Den. Good input. Any thoughts on pressure support. I honestly don't even know what that does.

Like OkyDoky said, I don't think the PS is an option in straight Bi-PAP.

And, from the M Series Bi-PAP manual:
"Maximum pressure support setting (Auto Bi-level therapy only; not available in Bi-level therapy)"


Den

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grayghost4 wrote:Quote: Any thoughts on pressure support

That set the difference between epap and ipap ... with epap set at 8 and a min of 2 ... and a max of 4 ... that will start with ipap at 10 and allow it to increase to 12 before it will raise the epap

So do the PS settings override the max IPAP setting or do you either have to set it to match or just not put a max? As in the instance he had max IPAP set at 18 but if the PS was max 4 and would limit to 12 IPAP which would overide? Or would the machine even let you set it this way?

Wulfman... wrote:

Sleeprider wrote:I've been using 11 - 14 auto with 1 Aflex

If it were me, I think I'd set the EPAP at 11 and the IPAP at 14 or 15 (straight Bi-PAP) for the first experiment. .

going from almost no pressure variation to a 3-4 ps may be a big change for him... otoh, he might like it.

min epap 11, maxipap 15 minps=0 maxps=3 would likely be much more what he was used to, and let the machine offer ps if it wants to.

OkyDoky wrote:Mine is set to Bipap 15/11 not auto bipap, and I didn't have the PS settings show up on the screen, so I think that is used just on the auto bipap. I do have biflex at 3 and I'm comfortable with it there. I think I would try like Den said straight Bipap and if you weren't using ramp before why start now?

ps is just the difference between epap an ipap, so you could write yours 15/11, or epap 11, ps 4

Sleeprider wrote:I have reset to straight BiPAP 11/14 Biflex 1, ramp off. PS settings went away as suggested by OkyDoky. That should be pretty straightforward for now. It will be interesting to see the results tomorrow.

14/11 is nothing like what you're used to with an auto machine with min 11 max 14.

this will be min 11 max 14 on every breath.

you'll see.

OkyDoky wrote: So do the PS settings override the max IPAP setting or do you either have to set it to match or just not put a max? As in the instance he had max IPAP set at 18 but if the PS was max 4 and would limit to 12 IPAP which would overide? Or would the machine even let you set it this way?

max ipap is the maximum that the ipap can get to, max ps is the max difference between ipap and epap. they both come into play.

you'd only hit those two limits if your epap went up to 14, ps 4, then you'd hit your max ipap at 18.

whatever the max is, that's as far as it'll go.

palerider wrote:

Sleeprider wrote:I have reset to straight BiPAP 11/14 Biflex 1, ramp off. PS settings went away as suggested by OkyDoky. That should be pretty straightforward for now. It will be interesting to see the results tomorrow.

14/11 is nothing like what you're used to with an auto machine with min 11 max 14.

this will be min 11 max 14 on every breath.

you'll see.

If the pressure differences (or Auto Bi-PAP) bother him he could always use it in straight pressure (CPAP) mode, too.


Den

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Wulfman... wrote:If the pressure differences (or Auto Bi-PAP) bother him he could always use it in straight pressure (CPAP) mode, too.

might as well leave it in the closet then.