P10 Mask Type setting on a Dreamstation

[Neutron Star]

Hi all,

I'm taking a Dreamstation for a test ride before final purchase of either the dream station or the Airsense 10.

Does anyone know what resistance I should set it to for P10 Pillows (medium) ? X2?

[TonyG]

It should be set to 0 per Phillips. They recommend that for all masks that are not theirs.

[Neutron Star]

What's different with the Respirionics masks and what does this setting accomplish with their masks. If using a Respironics mask with a setting of zero and not their recommended setting, how would your therapy change?

I'm trying to understand the impacts on therapy? Are they saying the only way to achieve maximum therapy with the Dreamstation is to use their mask?

[guest two]

I'm trying to understand the impacts on therapy? Are they saying the only way to achieve maximum therapy with the Dreamstation is to use their mask?

Yes, that's kinda what they're saying. The machine settings correspond to masks which have been engineered and produced to work specifically with their machines. It is the same for ResMed. The mask settings for ResMed machines apply specifically only to ResMed masks. In actuality, it probably makes little difference, though. Perhaps a slight difference in the computed leak rate. The characteristics, such as vent rate, dead space, etc. of various masks are published and one could probably make a reasonable guess as to the "proper" setting by comparing the characteristics of a mask to those of the manufacturer for which settings are published.
All that said, people use cross product masks all the time with little or no perceived impact on therapy.

[Neutron Star]

Okay, thanks for the info.

[palerider]

Perhaps a slight difference in the computed leak rate. The characteristics, such as vent rate, dead space, etc. of various masks are published and one could probably make a reasonable guess as to the "proper" setting by comparing the characteristics of a mask to those of the manufacturer for which settings are published..

only, respironics don't 'compute' a leak rate. they simply report the total leak rate, therefore there's nothing about the mask used in that.

also when thinking about what things to look at when making a guess, the name of the setting is "System One Resistance". which should be a big hint about what to look at. (mask resistance stats are in the manuals)

[guest two]

Perhaps a slight difference in the computed leak rate. The characteristics, such as vent rate, dead space, etc. of various masks are published and one could probably make a reasonable guess as to the "proper" setting by comparing the characteristics of a mask to those of the manufacturer for which settings are published..

only, respironics don't 'compute' a leak rate. they simply report the total leak rate, therefore there's nothing about the mask used in that.

also when thinking about what things to look at when making a guess, the name of the setting is "System One Resistance". which should be a big hint about what to look at. (mask resistance stats are in the manuals)

Good point(s)

Resistance
Drop in pressure measured (nominal)
at 50 L/min: 0.4 cm H2O
at 100 L/min: 1.4 cm H2O

[Neutron Star]

Perhaps a slight difference in the computed leak rate. The characteristics, such as vent rate, dead space, etc. of various masks are published and one could probably make a reasonable guess as to the "proper" setting by comparing the characteristics of a mask to those of the manufacturer for which settings are published..

only, respironics don't 'compute' a leak rate. they simply report the total leak rate, therefore there's nothing about the mask used in that.

also when thinking about what things to look at when making a guess, the name of the setting is "System One Resistance". which should be a big hint about what to look at. (mask resistance stats are in the manuals)

Good point(s)

Resistance
Drop in pressure measured (nominal)
at 50 L/min: 0.4 cm H2O
at 100 L/min: 1.4 cm H2O

Thank you Palerider and Guest Two!

[Pugsy]

FWIW....when I was using the PR S1 Respironics machine and my usual ResMed nasal pillow mask and trying to figure out just how important the Resistance Control setting might or might not be I tested all settings including off and compared the results showing up on the software reports. I couldn't tell that changing the Resistance Control did anything in terms of data one way or the other and it sure didn't feel any different to me and didn't seem to affect sleep quality.
So my own personal opinion is that it probably isn't that big of a deal one way or the other to have the settings match exactly or to use only Respironics masks or even simply turn it off.

The settings are for mask resistance...not vent rate though....so vent rates don't matter.
Resistance is not the same as vent. It's not something that is used to help the machine figure out excess leak like the ResMed machines have with their mask type choice.

Does Respironics want you to use a Respironics mask....of course they do. That's how they make money.....sell stuff.
Now is it a critical issue? I don't think so and I doubt very much that most people could actually tell any difference with anything if you didn't tell them that a Resistance Control setting had been altered in some fashion.