What is the lifespan of an auto CPAP machine?

Hi,

Just looking for some info. I have a Remstar auto cpap with built on heated humidifier and Cflex. I have had it about 6 yrs, works fine and no noise at all. Was just wondering about lifespan. This is my second CPAP unit.

I also was wondering about the difference between auto Cpap and Bipap. I dont quite get it, and when is one needed vs the other?

I did do some searching around here, but could not find specific answers to this.

Thanks

I recall that it is something like 15000 - 16000 hours of use. I am sure there is somewhat of a bell curve on this.

That would be almost 60 years. My first one died after 5 years, started making funny noises. Is that possible, that long? Wow!

8 hrs. of sleep a night for 365 nights = 2920 hrs per year. 5-6 yrs and you are at 15,000 hrs+ This is why most insurance companies will permit a new machine every 5 yrs.

HoseCrusher wrote:I recall that it is something like 15000 - 16000 hours of use. I am sure there is somewhat of a bell curve on this.

15000hrs/8hrsper night = 1875 nights 1875nights/365 nights per year =5.13yrs

Ooops, I was off by a digit... one too many zeros. Seemed a bit much..

I paid cash. My ins co wanted a copay and to make payments on it. As it was late in the year I would have been hit up with a second copay the beginning of the next year. It would have cost me plenty thru a med equip provder. I got mine online cash for way less.

It still works fine, was just wondering...

It is new mask time though...I've had the same one for 3 years... I know, I could prob have changed it sooner, but it works fine.

Backdoctor wrote: I also was wondering about the difference between auto Cpap and Bipap. I dont quite get it, and when is one needed vs the other?

In simple terms a bilevel machine has two pressure settings. One for inhale and a lower one for exhale.

If you have no problem tolerating the pressure then there is no need to consider a bilevel.

One rule of thumb that some doctors use, including mine, is if the pressure setting is 14 or higher the patient may do better on bilevel.

An example of a pressure setting for bilevel would be an inhale setting of 18 and an exhale setting of 12. Both settings need to be titrated in the sleep lab because you can have apneas on exhale and the airway needs to be maintained by the machine pressure.

Some people will find that the constant up and down of the pressure is disturbing and will eschew bilevel. But they are not stuck with an unusable machine because the two pressures can be set as one.

NightMonkey: Thanks for the simple explanation of Bilevel. Some posts in the past have been making it sound really complicated.

Backdoctor wrote:Ooops, I was off by a digit... one too many zeros. Seemed a bit much..

I paid cash. My ins co wanted a copay and to make payments on it. As it was late in the year I would have been hit up with a second copay the beginning of the next year. It would have cost me plenty thru a med equip provder. I got mine online cash for way less.

It still works fine, was just wondering...

It is new mask time though...I've had the same one for 3 years... I know, I could prob have changed it sooner, but it works fine.

They say six years or so. But as long as it works, that's all that matters. I would recommend either making or purchasing a manometer (the Fisher and Paykell one you can get on CPAP.com is all you'd need) to check every now and then that the CPAP is still putting out a pressure within =/- .2 cm H2O of the assigned pressure.

teknomom wrote:NightMonkey: Thanks for the simple explanation of Bilevel. Some posts in the past have been making it sound really complicated.

There are some more complicated machines such as "ASV" that are also labeled as "bilevel" machines. They are a whole lot more complicated than a "simple" bilevel. Bilevel itself isn't that complicated, but some machines labeled as "bilevel" are.