Mask off Alert (Respironics Dreamstation)

[stevej1234]

From reading specifications online, it appeared that the Dreamstation line of Respironics machine has the "Mask off alert" feature the same as the older System One machine.

However I don't see anything in the clinical menu to set it on or off, nor in the instruction manual, nor does online content I came across indicate how to do it.

Does anyone actually know how to adjust the Mask Off Alert setting to turn the beeping on or off for a mask off event? Thanks.

[Chris8243]

Pretty sure there is no "mask off" alert. It would be nice as I tend to take my mask off, either unknowingly or if I think it's morning (but was 3am per Sleeyhead).

A few people have suggested putting a piece of tape over the strap, on your cheek, that will wake you up if you try to take it off during the night.

[JDS74]

On my DreamStation ASV machine, the alarm being referred to is the Patient Disconnect Alarm.
The only other Respironics machines with which I am familiar that have this same function are the System One 950 and the 960 machines. Perhaps that is what is being referenced .

On my machine the time until the alarm sounds seems to be set to 60 seconds and does not seem to be settable either by the clinician nor by the patient.
Pressing the control dial silences the alarm.

Looking at the DreamStation Auto-BiPap manual, it appears that this alarm is not present. Rather there is a feature called auto-off that will turn the machine off when the patient removes the mask during the night. That is settable by the patient. No alarm.

Contrast this to the ASV in which the alarm is needed to detect this condition as the machine can act as a ventilator under extended CSA events and it would be not desirable to shut off the machine because of some patient breathing issue. I recently experienced a 30+ minute episode in which I didn't initiate a breath. Pretty uncommon for my but likely not so uncommon for patients with severe central apnea issues. My longest time interval was 150 minutes and a little quite a few years ago and occurred while I was using a System One 960 ASV machine.

[palerider]

On my machine the time until the alarm sounds seems to be set to 60 seconds and does not seem to be settable either by the clinician nor by the patient.

It takes respironics machines a minute to figure out that the mask is off...

[Dan_McD]

There isn't a mask off beep alert on the Dreamstation. As said before, if you set "auto off", the machine shuts off if it detects the mask off or no breathing. I have never used that feature because of the poor design. Someone wasn't thinking at PR when they did that one.

[Pugsy]

There used to bea mask leak alert setting available on Respironics machines. My first M series had one...don't remember if my System One did or not and I haven't seen a DreamStation.
The leak alert was a weak beeping sound and it would also sound if someone removed the mask because that actually creates a big leak.
It was a pitiful weak beeping sound...that I slept through 99% of the time...which is why I don't remember about the System One machines having it or not....by the time I was using the System One I had long since turned the leak alert off since it was pretty much useless to me anyway.

[JDS74]

I just checked on the System One 760 Auto BiPap (a model I used to use) and this alarm is called Mask Alert;
It is turned on for large leaks or disconnect of the patient and, as Pugsy noted, is user selectable.

[WARREN_S7__VPAP_III]

Check on YouTube for instructions on Mask-Off on DreamStation

[WARREN_S7__VPAP_III]

Pugsy The M-Series Alarms were So, Weak, I couldn’t hear them, like when the Battery BackUp in the Power Brick of the Power Cord. Only a few People could, When They ask what is that Beeping Sound coming from My Old APAP.

[chunkyfrog]

Taping the mask to the face can help break the habit of mask removal.
Getting hair under the tape is even more effective.