How does my machine detect an apnea?

[Spottymaldoon]

I am mystified as to how my APAP actually senses an apnea. On the Encore report I see, usually, a single little stripe when an apnea has happened - occasionally they are doubled up (thicker). If I hold my breath I can't seem to provoke an artificial apnea.

What are the criteria for an apnea in these machines?
Can the machine falsely report an apnea when there is mouth-leakage?
How long of an apnea incident causes Encore to record a single 'stripe'?

[Wulfman]

I am mystified as to how my APAP actually senses an apnea. On the Encore report I see, usually, a single little stripe when an apnea has happened - occasionally they are doubled up (thicker). If I hold my breath I can't seem to provoke an artificial apnea.

What are the criteria for an apnea in these machines?
Can the machine falsely report an apnea when there is mouth-leakage?
How long of an apnea incident causes Encore to record a single 'stripe'?

They use air flow sensors.
The characteristics are in the firmware (embedded software).

Don't know if this will help or not.

http://sleepapnea.respironics.com/techn ... rithm.aspx

Of course it can give false readings.....it's based on air flow. The odds are better that the readings are correct when you're asleep and not tossing and turning. You have to take this data with a grain of salt, but when monitored over a period of time, you can probably make some determinations as to the effectiveness of your therapy.


Den

[TossinNTurnin]

I am mystified as to how my APAP actually senses an apnea. On the Encore report I see, usually, a single little stripe when an apnea has happened - occasionally they are doubled up (thicker). If I hold my breath I can't seem to provoke an artificial apnea.

What are the criteria for an apnea in these machines?
Can the machine falsely report an apnea when there is mouth-leakage?
How long of an apnea incident causes Encore to record a single 'stripe'?

They use air flow sensors.
The characteristics are in the firmware (embedded software).

Don't know if this will help or not.

http://sleepapnea.respironics.com/techn ... rithm.aspx

Of course it can give false readings.....it's based on air flow. The odds are better that the readings are correct when you're asleep and not tossing and turning. You have to take this data with a grain of salt, but when monitored over a period of time, you can probably make some determinations as to the effectiveness of your therapy.


Den[//quote]

Succinct and articulate. Well done.

[tangents]

I don't know about the Respironics, but my APAP does not start recording data until the machine's been running for 30 minutes. So if I were to try to trick it into recording an apnea during that time, I wouldn't see it the next day. The APAP responds by increasing the pressure, though, so I could tell if it were working - if I were inclilned to do so, that is!

Regards,
Cathy