Question about IntelliPAP data

Hello everyone. I have lurked on his board off and on for several years but I am coming out of the lurker mode to ask a question about the IntelliPAP unit I purchased recently.

My old CPAP was not data capable so I finally decided to upgrade to an AutoPap with data capability. I personally love the IntelliPAP so far but I have only used it two nights. The first night wasn't very comfortable because I was trying to be very careful that I didn't dislodge my mask and skew the data I received. Last night, I slept like a log and didn't worry about the data. The unit is much quieter than the one I purchased when I was diagnosed with OSA, (REMstarPLUS M), which I now know was the bottom of the line, but it has served me well during the years I have used it. I was like so many others I read about here, I knew nothing about sleep apnea or CPAP machines. I took the unit the DM said I needed.

Thanks to Emilia, I got the data uploaded from the IntelliPAP and was able to see the details from the last two nights. Everything looks fairly good except the leak rate. It is showing 33.1 on average. The machine is not showing any mask leaks so I'm not sure I understand where the leak is coming from. What is considered the normal leak rate for the IntelliPAP?

I've checked the placement of the humidifier unit and it is placed correctly, hoses are snug where they attach to the machine and my mask. I have a hybrid mask and have worked to get it to work for me, adjusting it numerous times until it seems to be fairly leak-free. My pressure was set at 9 on my CPAP so I set the IntelliPAP to 8.5-15. Seems both nights, most of the time has been spend right under 9 with occasional spikes when I dislodge the mask. the highest spike has been to 12.5. Any help you can give would be much appreciated.

Last night recorded AHI-1.9, AI-0, Leak-34.1, NRI-0.1.

Hi Beckah!
Your stats from last night are fabulous! Congratulations!! I am not familiar with your mask, but the manual that came with it should tell you the acceptable leak rate for it. That said, your 33.1 average is ok. Mine are usually in the high 20's with some random 30's. See this thread for some discussion: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56397&p=528703&hili ... te#p528703

On your report for last night, if you scroll down to the line graph that shows the Events..... your L line is probably empty. If you had high, disruptive leaks, they would show up on that line.

You might want to tighten up the pressure range to 8.5-13 and see if that helps a bit... although you are doing so great you could just stay put for a week or so.

Had to go hunting for this, but I remembered that DeVilbiss Marketing (a forum user) wrote this:

It's clear you are experiencing some significant leaks (most masks expiratory port leak rates are between 30-40 LPM. The IntelliPAP AutoAdjust
considers leak rates greater than 95 LPM to be excessive). Since leak rates greater than 95 LPM cause irregular flow signals, the AutoAdjust algorithm can no longer properly detect breathing events, so event response is disabled; however, following procedures similar to those used in sleep labs, the algorithm decreases pressure every 6 minutes until you change body or mask position to resolve the leak or stops mouth breathing.

Another opportunity to thank you Emilia, for your help yesterday. I would never have figured that out by myself.

I'll have to dig out my manual for the Hybrid and see if it gives any information about leak rate. I will tighten up the range from 8.5-13 if the next five days show the same top range of 12.5. Thanks for giving me your leak rates, mine don't seem as bad as I previously thought.

Update from your newest post: Wow, if the expiratory port leak is 30-40 LPM, it looks as though I don't need to worry about low 30's then. Thanks for finding that quote.....I searched the forum last night with a lot of different keywords but didn't come across that one.

Sleep well and I'll continue to read your posts with interest.

Beckah54 wrote:Hello everyone. I have lurked on his board off and on for several years but I am coming out of the lurker mode to ask a question about the IntelliPAP unit I purchased recently.

My old CPAP was not data capable so I finally decided to upgrade to an AutoPap with data capability. I personally love the IntelliPAP so far but I have only used it two nights. The first night wasn't very comfortable because I was trying to be very careful that I didn't dislodge my mask and skew the data I received. Last night, I slept like a log and didn't worry about the data. The unit is much quieter than the one I purchased when I was diagnosed with OSA, (REMstarPLUS M), which I now know was the bottom of the line, but it has served me well during the years I have used it. I was like so many others I read about here, I knew nothing about sleep apnea or CPAP machines. I took the unit the DM said I needed.

Thanks to Emilia, I got the data uploaded from the IntelliPAP and was able to see the details from the last two nights. Everything looks fairly good except the leak rate. It is showing 33.1 on average. The machine is not showing any mask leaks so I'm not sure I understand where the leak is coming from. What is considered the normal leak rate for the IntelliPAP?

I've checked the placement of the humidifier unit and it is placed correctly, hoses are snug where they attach to the machine and my mask. I have a hybrid mask and have worked to get it to work for me, adjusting it numerous times until it seems to be fairly leak-free. My pressure was set at 9 on my CPAP so I set the IntelliPAP to 8.5-15. Seems both nights, most of the time has been spend right under 9 with occasional spikes when I dislodge the mask. the highest spike has been to 12.5. Any help you can give would be much appreciated.

Last night recorded AHI-1.9, AI-0, Leak-34.1, NRI-0.1.

A while back I posted some scans taken from the manuals of a couple of full-face masks that show the expected "Vent Flow Rate" (a/k/a "Intentional Leak"), and you can see those here -- viewtopic/t57289/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=55 ... 47#p524276.

If you take a look at the manual that came with your mask, you should find a similar graph that will tell you how much airflow (I think the term "Leak" is kind of confusing) to be expected FOR YOUR MASK and at a given pressure. For example, the graph and accompanying table for the ResMed Quattro mask shows that if your IntelliPAP is delivering 8cmH2O of pressure, the mask will exhaust 32 Liters per minute WHEN THE MASK IS PERFECTLY FIT TO YOUR FACE.

From your description - you are using approximately 9cmH2O of pressure, and your mask exhausts a bit more than 34L/min - which sounds perfectly reasonable and seems to indicate you have very little problem with true leaking of your mask (that is; leak that results from poor fitting of the mask to your face).

I hope this helps.

Thanks DHC, I was actually looking at the graph for the Hybrid when I read your message. The best I read the graph, it appears the airflow for a pressure setting of 9 would be in the mid to upper range of 30's, so that would indeed account for the numbers I am seeing on the daily report.

Thanks for helping me understand the difference between a true leak and a "vent flow rate" and for being so helpful.

Sleep well!