Bipap

[sleepwiggler]

What is the difference between a bipap and cpap. They seem similar to my S9 autoset.

[SleepyCarey]

Whereas CPAP has one single pressure, a BiPap uses two pressures (hence the "bi"): the inhalation pressure (IPAP) & the exhalation pressure (EPAP). A BiPap is often used for patients who need a high level of pressure, and/or have additional health considerations like congestive heart failure or other heart, lung, nerve or muscle conditions. It allows for a lesser pressure upon exhalation, so it's easier to breathe against.

Then there's APAP, which is similar to CPAP except that it allows for a range of pressures rather than a single pressure. APAP is where the machine automatically adjusts the pressure using an algorithm that monitors the breathing. But a nice feature of APAP machines is that they can either be run in APAP mode or CPAP mode. In APAP mode you would set the minimum and maximum pressure and the machine adjusts accordingly through the night. In CPAP mode you set a single fixed pressure at which the machine runs the whole time.

[Pugsy]

The S9 machines when using EPR are functioning pretty much like a bilevel machine withe the difference between inhale and exhale creating 2 pressures.

Bipap is Respironics trademark name for a bilevel machine.
Bilevel machines can go up to 25 cm where regular cpap/apap machines only go to 20 cm.

The S9 machines using EPR to create a bilevel like mode are limited to the 3 cm maximum EPR setting.
Full functioning bilevel machines like the Respironics BiPaps or the various ResMed bilevel models have a much larger difference available if needed or wanted between inhale and exhale than the 3 cm that EPR offers.
So greater versatility.

There are what I call "plain" bilevel machines which are pretty much like regular cpap/apap machines with the greater difference between inhale and exhale (called pressure support)
and then there are the other various specialized bilevel machines for use with specific issues like centrals or COPD or whatever. So within the "bilevel" classification there is are several different types.

But for the ResMed Elite and AutoSet models...if you use EPR you are using a limted (to that 3 cm difference) bilevel situation and sometimes that bilevel situation comes in handy for various reasons.