Can i use my wife's bi-pap to replace my c-pap machine?

[bobotech]

My wife died a few months ago. At the time of her passing, her medical equipment company had just finished refurbishing her bi-pap machine by replacing much of the guts of it so it is pretty much new.

Now I have an older Remstar pro c-pap machine that I use that is set to 9.5. The problem with my machine is that it shuts off and starts beeping randomly at times. I can't get a new machine until I have a complete sleep study and all that stuff done so I just want to start using my wife's old bi-pap machine

Her machine is a Philips Respironics Bi-pap pro model number REF 650p.

Any suggestions? Can I somehow program the bipap to work as a cpap?

[Pugsy]

Actually the 650 model already has cpap mode available as a choice and there is no need to fiddle with the settings to make it work like a cpap machine.

You might go get the provider manual for the BiPap Pro and see how to get to the clinical setup menu where you can change the mode to cpap mode and make the pressure changes to work like your old machine.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual

[bobotech]

Well apparently my model does NOT have the cpap mode. There is no mode options available in the provider menu. I just don't have the mode option at all. Went though all the options too.

So since I'm stuck in the bi-pap mode, can I still set it so that it works like a c-pap?

[Gasper62]

I'm very sorry for your loss. I hope you are able to get set up with the Bi-Pap to replace the functions of your failing C-Pap machine. Used C-Pap machines are sometimes available from craigslist for not too much money.


I thought that I'd found the info needed but was mistaken. Good luck !

[biz64]

Well apparently my model does NOT have the cpap mode. There is no mode options available in the provider menu. I just don't have the mode option at all. Went though all the options too.

So since I'm stuck in the bi-pap mode, can I still set it so that it works like a c-pap?

Yes, set both the inspiratory and expiratory pressures to the same pressure ( 9.5 in your case) to get the bipap to function as a cpap.

[bobotech]

Thanks, I will do that.

Is there anything else I should do as well? I just want to make sure that I'm using her machine to the best of its capabilities.

[JDS74]

Well apparently my model does NOT have the cpap mode. There is no mode options available in the provider menu. I just don't have the mode option at all. Went though all the options too. So since I'm stuck in the bi-pap mode, can I still set it so that it works like a c-pap?

On the providers menu, is there an entry labeled MODE?
If so, click on that and you will get a choice of either BiPap or CPAP. Select CPAP and you are good to go?

[Pugsy]

This is from the Bipap Pro model 650 manual. There is indeed cpap mode but only available in the clinical setup menu and if you don't see all the other items shown below then you aren't in the clinical setup menu.

[bobotech]

Well I'm pretty sure I'm in the clinical menu. Otherwise how would I be able to change the pressures? Or is there a 3rd deeper menu option set that has more options than the normal clinical options?

But yeah, the option for "MODE" is not present at all in the menu section that I am in when I programmed my device last night.

[Pugsy]

Can you please confirm the model number...3 digits on the bottom of the blower unit.
The 650 has the mode option thing but the 950 doesn't.
If you do have the 950...we can still get it close to cpap mode but not exact.
Tell us what cpap pressure you want to use.

[JDS74]

No, if you can change pressure, you're in the clinical menu.
Next step is to determine the revision number on the firmware.
Turn off the machine, wait a minute or two, then turn it back on.
As it is turning on, it will report the version number of the machine as well as the total blower hours.
It appears that you have an early version of the 650 that does not support CPAP mode. The version number will indicate that. If that is so, you might contact Accurate Biomed to inquire about a firmware upgrade. I believe that the CPAP mode was a later revision of the firmware.

When I had mine done a couple of years ago, the cost was less than $100 and they did a complete system check to verify that all else was well.
Their web page is http://acbio.com/.


You can contact them directly.
Accurate Biomed Services Inc.
100 North 17th Street Bethany, MO 64424
(888) 327-7483

[Pugsy]

If it is an early 650 model with no cpap mode I wonder if EPAP could be set to equal IPAP and thus make it function like a cpap. The 750 wouldn't do it but maybe the 650 would allow it.

[JDS74]

Pending any firmware fix, you could set EPAP to 1 cmH2O less than IPAP and have the effect of a single pressure machine.
Upgrading the firmware is the better solution, though.

I have two different copies of the User Manual labeled Vers. from 2010 and they both make reference to CPAP mode.
EDIT: The OP's machine may date from before September 2010 and not have the feature. A firmware upgrade is the way to get it.

[bobotech]

For the record, I believe we got the machine in mid-late 2009, I believe that is what her medical company told her when we had it serviced back in may.

Anyway, it is version 1.24 which is shown when it boots up.

[bobotech]

Also the model number is 650P.

And no matter what anyone says, there is no MODE option at all before the options to set the 2 bipap pressures.