Encore Pro Analyzer for BiPAPs

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:42 am

I've pretty much got the Encore Pro Analyzer beta working with BiPAPs now I think. If you are interested in giving it a try you can download it from:

http://james.istop.com/EncoreProAnalyzer/

This new beta has a few new features for regular users as well such as range averages and ability to toggle between bar/line graphs for most charts.

-James

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:31 pm

James,

I tried your software (looks terrific - the screens are easy to follow), but I have a problem & can't seem to get any data to show - I am having the same problem with MyEncore.

The issue seems to be that I have 4 enteries for patients. All the same name but with different 'id' fields designating different machines (Bipap Pro2, Auto, Bipap S/T, BiPap Auto).

Whenever I start MYEncore or your own software, they don't seem to see that there are 4 entries (just show one) & the added problem is that the data for that one was an old entry I put in 1st but deleted.

Am interested in getting data to show but clearly there is a difference in the way EncorePro manages patients that is different in how Derek's your software see the SQL patient entries.

Cheers

DSM

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:59 pm

Hi James...

Will it work with the Respironics Auto BiPAP?

Is your software designed to work along side My Encore and Encore Pro or will it ....what is the word? Overlay MyEncore? Will it supercede My Encore?

Put it another way, when I download your software, will MyEncore no longer exist as a separate program?

Once I download your program, which I will, I am building up the courage, will My Encore still work the way it did?

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curtcurt46 · Post by **curtcurt46** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:00 pm

Is this still just for the new M series Bipap's?

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:48 pm

dllfo wrote:Will it work with the Respironics Auto BiPAP?

Yes it should. I'm in the testing phase now so I haven't been able to test with all versions of machines at this point. (which is what I need you guys help with) I started out writing it because MyEncore wouldn't fully work with M Series machines but I am trying to make it work with all the older machines too.

dllfo wrote: Is your software designed to work along side My Encore and Encore Pro or will it ....what is the word? Overlay MyEncore? Will it supercede My Encore?

The goal is to offer all the features of MyEncore. Currently its missing some features that MyEncore, most notably the daily report. (which I will eventually add)

dllfo wrote: Put it another way, when I download your software, will MyEncore no longer exist as a separate program?

EPA will not affect MyEncore in anyway. Both will work separately if installed.

dllfo wrote: Once I download your program, which I will, I am building up the courage, will My Encore still work the way it did?

Yes it will not affect MyEncore in any way.

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:49 pm

curtcurt46 wrote:Is this still just for the new M series Bipap's?

Nope I've added support for most older machines now. I need testers to check it with all the older machines. Download it and give it a try and let me know if everything works correctly.

Cheers, -james

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 4:01 pm

dsm wrote:James,

The issue seems to be that I have 4 enteries for patients. All the same name but with different 'id' fields designating different machines (Bipap Pro2, Auto, Bipap S/T, BiPap Auto).

Whenever I start MYEncore or your own software, they don't seem to see that there are 4 entries (just show one) & the added problem is that the data for that one was an old entry I put in 1st but deleted.

Am interested in getting data to show but clearly there is a difference in the way EncorePro manages patients that is different in how Derek's your software see the SQL patient entries.

Users are stored in an SQL tabled called 'Patients' in the EncorePro database. Every patient has a unique identifier called PatientID and an optional identifier called FacilityPatientID (which sounds like its the one you are using to identify your different machines)

Both Derek and I use the PatientID as the unique key. I'm surprised that its not working for you. When you click on the drop down box in the Patient selection widget you only see one entry?

cwsanfor · Post by **cwsanfor** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:18 pm

James, I'm still trying to get time to give it a thorough test, but there's an item that might benefit from some forum input.

I think MyEncore mislabels the BiPAP pressure-related charts as far as EPAP and IPAP go. I wonder if some more expert hosers can address whether it's useful (or possible) to show pressure-related charts for both IPAP and EPAP. I notice that EncorePro only shows OA's on EPAP and Hypopneas on IPAP: does the reverse chart have any clinical usefulness?

cwsanfor · Post by **cwsanfor** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:03 pm

Just brilliant, James. It's interesting how much better zedgraph renders in a browser.

Okay, here's where I get to play whiny end user for a change.

Overall: I have two datasets in EncorePro: an older one using APAP, and a newer one using BiPAP. Encore Pro Analyzer (EPA) defaults to the older one. Better to be able to select.

Overall: I take it "vrs" is the Canadian form of "vs", eh?

Overall: I wonder if Respironics will develop a problem with the name "Encore Pro Anything"?

Overall: I think you mentioned the need for date filtering and a "Preferences" screen ...

Pressures: Doesn't show both IPAP and EPAP. See "Auto Bi-Level IPAP and EPAP Pressures" in MyEncore. But wait: I forgot I'm looking at APAP data, not BiPAP data because of the default to my older dataset.

So it occurs to me that I can't really test EPA qua BiPAP until you include a dataset selector. More later. Thanks much for your hard work.

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:26 pm

cwsanfor wrote:Overall: I have two datasets in EncorePro: an older one using APAP, and a newer one using BiPAP. Encore Pro Analyzer (EPA) defaults to the older one. Better to be able to select.

You select the patient from the dropdown in the toolbar. Its designed remember the last patient selected. Is that not working for you?

cwsanfor wrote: Overall: I think you mentioned the need for date filtering and a "Preferences" screen ...

On my growing 'to do' list

cwsanfor wrote: Pressures: Doesn't show both IPAP and EPAP. See "Auto Bi-Level IPAP and EPAP Pressures" in MyEncore. But wait: I forgot I'm looking at APAP data, not BiPAP data because of the default to my older dataset.

When you switch the user you should see all the Bi-PAP pressure stuff

cwsanfor wrote: So it occurs to me that I can't really test EPA qua BiPAP until you include a dataset selector. More later.

the dataset selector should be there already...

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:38 pm

jskinner wrote:
dsm wrote:James,

The issue seems to be that I have 4 enteries for patients. All the same name but with different 'id' fields designating different machines (Bipap Pro2, Auto, Bipap S/T, BiPap Auto).

Whenever I start MYEncore or your own software, they don't seem to see that there are 4 entries (just show one) & the added problem is that the data for that one was an old entry I put in 1st but deleted.

Am interested in getting data to show but clearly there is a difference in the way EncorePro manages patients that is different in how Derek's your software see the SQL patient entries.
Users are stored in an SQL tabled called 'Patients' in the EncorePro database. Every patient has a unique identifier called PatientID and an optional identifier called FacilityPatientID (which sounds like its the one you are using to identify your different machines)

Both Derek and I use the PatientID as the unique key. I'm surprised that its not working for you. When you click on the drop down box in the Patient selection widget you only see one entry?

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:26 pm

dsm wrote: Yes the drop down only shows 1 entry & the data it shows is for that entry is a deleted version of that entry.

Is it of a deleted or "discontinued" patient?

-james

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:53 pm

dsm wrote: I tried your software (looks terrific - the screens are easy to follow), but I have a problem & can't seem to get any data to show - I am having the same problem with MyEncore.

What version of Encore Pro are you using?

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:00 pm

cwsanfor wrote:I notice that EncorePro only shows OA's on EPAP and Hypopneas on IPAP: does the reverse chart have any clinical usefulness?

In the database OA's and H's are recorded separately for IPAP and EPAP. I must say however that I find the Bi-PAP stuff in the encore database a bit confusing

curtcurt46 · Post by **curtcurt46** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:04 am

James,
What you have so far for Bipap work fine. I have a bipap auto. I believe one of the problems that My Encore has is looking at pressure versus events. If you look at the Encore Pro daily details at the bottom you see the events per hour broken between IPAP and EPAP and the events (IPAP-FL,VS,NR,H and EPAP-VS,NR,OA). Because of how respironics is counting events by pressure, the numbers can be skewed and miss leading. For instance, today my last nights hypopnea index was 0.8. However if you look at 13cm IPAP it shows the hypopnea index to be 1.4. My time at 13cm was 44 minutes for a total night of about 446 minutes. Any kind of graph of this will lead you to the wrong analysis. In this example, you might infer that you want to avoid the 13cm pressure. But this simply is a wrong analysis. I myself just don't feel this data is useful. For me the trend of current and past pressure setting as compared to AHI average, OA average and H average would be more useful in helping a person fine tune his pressure settings.
Some thoughts:
1. I believe you have a great opportunity with your work on Encore Pro Analyzer to develop the metrics that cpapers want to see on a regular basis. What these metrics are needs to be determined and then look to see if the database has the appropriate data to measure. I would get a committee of experience folks to determine what metrics would be nice. Then you need the smart guys to tell you how you measure for a particular metric. Then finally you put the metrics in the program.
2. I found that My Encore did not give me any better information than Encore pro.
3. Data points that I would like to see:
a. Leak rate: mask vs. actual vs. pressure. You would have to have a mechanism for the user to enter his masks standard leak rate for say 4 pressure points.
b. Leak: daily average vs. running average(time period).
c. Improvement Trend for Avg AHI vs. pressure settings. For cpap this would be the single pressure setting. for auto it would be the range, for bipap it would be the two pressures and for auto bipap it would be the range.
4. Selectable time period for data measurement.
Hope my comments help. I will play with it a little more as time permits and provide comments as I discover anything.