Do different machines have different definitions of leakage?

[Yousuf]

A friend was using the Philips Dreamstation machine, but after the recall fiasco, he obtained a new machine from ResMed. Everything seems similar between the two machines, except for one thing: leakage reporting. Under Dreamstation, he was hardly getting any leaks, usually showing 100% mask fit every night. But under Resmed, he often sees up to 25% reported mask leaks per night. Is this just a definitional problem? Is it because Philips and ResMed use different definitions of a large leak?

[Dog Slobber]

Yes, ResMeds and Respironics represent leaks differently.

Recognise that a single number for an 8 hour sleep session is a poor indicator of a leak.

That's why the OSCAR leak trace is important, it shows your the leak at any given time.

[chunkyfrog]

One more reason the System II machines are useless.

[palerider]

But under Resmed, he often sees up to 25% reported mask leaks per night.

Your friend doesn't know what is going on. The machine reports excess leak, and if you're just looking at the front display, or the app, then all your seeing is how much of the night there's *excess* leak, more than the machine likes, which is more than 24liters per minute of excess leak.

To find out what's going on, he needs to get Oscar.

[Yousuf]

But under Resmed, he often sees up to 25% reported mask leaks per night.

Your friend doesn't know what is going on. The machine reports excess leak, and if you're just looking at the front display, or the app, then all your seeing is how much of the night there's *excess* leak, more than the machine likes, which is more than 24liters per minute of excess leak.

To find out what's going on, he needs to get Oscar.

He has Oscar, that's why we're asking.

[Julie]

Then tell him to post results (in this thread please), or start his own new one with all his info.

[palerider]

But under Resmed, he often sees up to 25% reported mask leaks per night.

Your friend doesn't know what is going on. The machine reports excess leak, and if you're just looking at the front display, or the app, then all your seeing is how much of the night there's *excess* leak, more than the machine likes, which is more than 24liters per minute of excess leak.

To find out what's going on, he needs to get Oscar.

He has Oscar, that's why we're asking.

Oscar doesn't report leak in any kind of percentage, Oscar reports liters/minute. So what you said was misleading.

But to disregard everything you asked, and only focus on the title of the post, the answer is YES.

Philips Respironics (and many other machines) aren't smart enough to calculate the mask vent rate so they only report *total* leak, which is the intended mask vent rate plus leaks.

Resmed has smarter machines that can work out what the mask vent rate is, and so they only report the *excess* leak, which should be kept under 24lpm.

[Yousuf]

He has Oscar, that's why we're asking.

Oscar doesn't report leak in any kind of percentage, Oscar reports liters/minute. So what you said was misleading.

But to disregard everything you asked, and only focus on the title of the post, the answer is YES.

Philips Respironics (and many other machines) aren't smart enough to calculate the mask vent rate so they only report *total* leak, which is the intended mask vent rate plus leaks.

Resmed has smarter machines that can work out what the mask vent rate is, and so they only report the *excess* leak, which should be kept under 24lpm.

Okay, does it matter if he sets the mask type to something specific, such as nasal, full face, etc. with either machine? I found it doesn't seem to matter with Philips, but will it with Resmed?

[Pugsy]

does it matter if he sets the mask type to something specific, such as nasal, full face, etc. with either machine?

Do an experiment while awake.
Test each mask setting while awake and then look at the OSCAR reports for the 15 minute leak graph for each mask setting and see if it varies or not. 3 settings so 3 15 minute segments using same mask.

Years ago in past Resmed manuals it clearly stated that mask setting was a factor in excess leak calculations but we haven't seen that mentioned in the manuals for recent models.

So how about taking one for the team and do some real life testing?

[palerider]

Okay, does it matter if he sets the mask type to something specific, such as nasal, full face, etc. with either machine? I found it doesn't seem to matter with Philips, but will it with Resmed?

Why would you set it wrongly?

[chunkyfrog]

Resmed's mask settings relate directly to the calculated volume of each mask.
Respironics has a sytem of "mask resistance" numbers that may or may not have
a functional basis at all, as it seems to be more a marketing ploy to discourage
the use of competitors' masks.
Just my opinion--but I could be right.

[Yousuf]

Resmed's mask settings relate directly to the calculated volume of each mask.
Respironics has a sytem of "mask resistance" numbers that may or may not have
a functional basis at all, as it seems to be more a marketing ploy to discourage
the use of competitors' masks.
Just my opinion--but I could be right.

Yes, you could be right.