Seeking answer to a couple of Q's on RemStar BiPap operation

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:39 pm

Am about to reassemble the BiPap I repaired ($US6 ea for 2 bearings ) but just wanted to get some advice from anyone who has used or is familiar with, the RemStar BiPap Pro or Pro 2

Question 1 - BiPap power up sequence ...
When the unit powers on it appears to do the following, can any owners confirm this is what happens with their units ...

1) There is a slight clunk as the airflow solenoid goes to the position that reduces air flow to the minimum
2) Then the blower starts up but no air comes out at this point
3) Then after a couple of seconds air begins to flow normally and the machine then cycles between IPAP & EPAP pressures as the user breathes.

I plan to do a manometer test after all else shows as ok.

Also
Question 2
To set the BiPap to CPAP mode, I gather it is just a matter of setting EPAP cms to the same as IPAP cms (unlike the PB330 which as a mode setting called CPAP).

Thanks

DSM

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): bipap, manometer, Power

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): bipap, manometer, CPAP, Power

MartiniLover · Post by **MartiniLover** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:47 pm

I have one.

Sounds right to me, step 1-3.

I never thought about using it as a cpap but your idea sounds reasonable.

Chuck...........with NO avitar

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 3:43 am

Hi MartiniLover,

What mask are you using with your BiPap. I tried my tests with an Ultra Mirage F/F mask but when I tried using an Activa the IPAP behaved quite differently.

Cheers

DSM

MartiniLover · Post by **MartiniLover** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:56 am

List in order that are comfortable for me.

Nasal Aire II
Resmed FullFace
Comfort Curve
Resmed Comfort Gel
Swift
Breeze

I can not tell a difference between any masks as far as air flow. Times are that no mask feels comfortable, and I am starving for air, so I crank up machine a notch or two. Other times it's just over the edge, so I crank it back.

I am titrated at 12, but half the time I feel better at 13. So I just go with it.

Masked Ranger · Post by **Masked Ranger** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 9:20 pm

I have a Respronics bi-pap pro 2. Setting the epap & ipap the same makes the machine work as a cpcp. I did some bi-pap pressure tests by connecting a pressure transducer and data logger to the mask hose and recording my nightly pressure cycles. Interestingly I discovered the machine was running about 1-1/2 cm less than it was set to operate at. Apparently the flex setting (1 thru 3) significantly effects the pressure responce curve. The higher the number the the worse it got to controlling pressure accurately. I changed the flex to 1 and now it's within 0.1 of the pressure setting.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:18 pm

Hi Masked,

Interesting observation. I can rig up a manometer & have been wondering how to get my hands on a decibel meter & pressure monitor (with recording).

I think they will be too expensive for me to justify.

The one thing that puzzels me re the BiPap Pro2 is that it appears to have no adjustments to allow for the differing mask leak rates.

My PB330 has six settings & goes from about 15 L/min to 42 L/min - my ultramirage f/f at 14cms is rated at about 43 L/min leak rate.

When I switch from that to my Actival nasal mask, the BiPap doesn't seem very happy & doesn't stay on IPAP long enough. I am playing with the machine at the moment having done open heart surgery on its motor. That work should make no diff to the pressures as they are controlled by the air solenoid valve & the pressure sensor lines. I am looking inside to see if there are any 'trim' type adjustments that may be there to adjust the IPAP & EPAP settings while measured with a manometer.

This RemStar BiPap doesn't behave very well on a BiFlex setting of 3 so I have been using 1 during testing.

The Ramp works with BiFlex ok.

Cheers

DSM

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): bipap, manometer, Ramp

Masked Ranger · Post by **Masked Ranger** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:28 pm

Dsm,

You are correct there is no mask leakage settings on the Pro 2. Reading the Resperonics U.S. patent on the Pro 2, it measures the total air flow (not to be confused with air pressure) as a base line number then subtracts the breathing cycle flow rate (the moving average of 4 breathing cycles) resulting in a "calculated" leakage number. As an electrical engineer that works on jet engine computer control fuel systems I can tell you accurate flow measurement is a tricky thing... it depends on the pressure, air density (humidity), hose diameter, hose type & restriction and temperature. This is before the air even reaches the mask. As each variable changes so does the flow numbers. The best we can hope for is watching our AHI trends... by that I mean are you feeling better or worse.

Mask

Mask