EPR and BiPAP, is there much difference?

I am having a difficult time distinguishing from BiPAP and EPR. I know that BiPAP has an inhale pressure and an exhale pressure, which can be set over the full range of pressures. Exhale pressure is usually less than the inhale pressure. My machine has EPR (C-flex? for other makes) that is adjustable from 1-3 cm below the inhale pressure.

When EPR is enabled does it function as a limited BiPAP or am I missing something?

BiPap is a type of machine. EPR is a type of exhalation relief. The BiPap does provide superior exhalation relief because you are setting an inhalation pressure and an exhalation pressure and they can be far apart from each other. EPR, A Flex and C Flex all provide exhalation relief but they only provide a max of about 3cm relief and can't do more. People need a BiPAP if they have a high pressure and/or a lot of difficulty exhaling against pressure (among other possible reasons).

BeanMeScot,
Thanks for answering my question. So I guess a BiPAP machine requires respiratory drive just like my APAP machine with the EPR feature, but the BiPAP just has a greater range of adjustment on the exhale pressure.

Unless of course you have a BIPAP with a timed setting feature. This is used alot for people with neuromuscular issues that dont have sufficiant respiratory drive.

nanochef wrote:I am having a difficult time distinguishing from BiPAP and EPR. I know that BiPAP has an inhale pressure and an exhale pressure, which can be set over the full range of pressures. Exhale pressure is usually less than the inhale pressure. My machine has EPR (C-flex? for other makes) that is adjustable from 1-3 cm below the inhale pressure.

When EPR is enabled does it function as a limited BiPAP or am I missing something?

According to rested gal in another post:

". . . C-Flex drops the pressure down some when you first start to exhale. C-Flex is designed to let the regular pressure come back in . . . before the person finishes exhaling. . . ."

". . . EPR does its pressure drop for breathing out as the exhalation progresses. But EPR keeps the pressure down until the person starts to breathe in again . . ."

" . . . A bilevel machine . . . can give the best pressure relief for exhaling. . . . To me, the most natural breathing feeling is with a true bilevel machine. Feels like breathing out into an empty hose almost. . . . "

viewtopic/t43371/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=40 ... 57#p351357

jnk,
Thanks for the update. It sounds like EPR and C-flex are somewhat gimicky versions of BiPAP.

there's more to it than that

EPR and BiFlex are exhale relief that can be found on bi-levels.

EPR, CFLEX and AFLEX are exhale relief that can be found on APAP's and CPAP's.

cflame1 wrote:there's more to it than that

EPR and BiFlex are exhale relief that can be found on bi-levels.

EPR, CFLEX and AFLEX are exhale relief that can be found on APAP's and CPAP's.

Which bilevel has EPR?

doesn't your VPAP? After all EPR is a Resmed thing.

I know that a Respironic's BiPap has BiFlex (because I have one).

EPR is on the S8 VPAP Auto 25, but it is only enable-able when the VPAP is in CPAP mode and not the VAuto or S modes (e.g. the BiPAP Modes).

SleepyInDC wrote:EPR is on the S8 VPAP Auto 25, but it is only enable-able when the VPAP is in CPAP mode and not the VAuto or S modes (e.g. the BiPAP Modes).

yet another reason for me to stick with Respironics... I don't have those silly restrictions

cflame1 wrote:

SleepyInDC wrote:EPR is on the S8 VPAP Auto 25, but it is only enable-able when the VPAP is in CPAP mode and not the VAuto or S modes (e.g. the BiPAP Modes).

yet another reason for me to stick with Respironics... I don't have those silly restrictions

As I understand it, EPR is a way to make CPAP feel similar to bilevel. Therefore, when you are actually using bilevel, there is no need for EPR, since you already using what EPR is meant to imitate.

Thats pretty much the way I see it also, that said, the Respironics BiPAPs have Bi-Flex available in the BiPAP modes which seems like EPR, just in BiPAP mode. If that makes any sense.

This is how I understand it, though I've never used a Respironics machine. Not yet, anyway.

EPR is for making a CPAP feel like a bilevel. BiFlex is a way of adjusting how a Respironics bilevel feels. ResMed bilevels also have adjustments on their bilevels to adjust how they respond and how they feel, many adjustments in fact (though not EPR for bilevel mode, since that would be redundant). Instead of Respironics' BiFlex, ResMeds have, for example, customization adjustments for Ti Min, Ti Max, rise time, triggering, cycling, exhalation rate, and the newer ones even have something called Easy-Breathe, which makes many of those adjustments unnecessary now. But do not confuse what BiFlex does with what EPR does. EPR for CPAP (and APAP) might be compared to A-Flex and C-Flex in some ways, but I don't think it can be compared to BiFlex, as I understand it anyway.

jeff (a full-fledged member of hair-splitters anonymous, today anyway)

jnk wrote:EPR for CPAP (and APAP) might be compared to A-Flex and C-Flex in some ways, but I don't think it can be compared to BiFlex, as I understand it anyway.

My point exactly.