Leak data in Autoset Respond question

[ehusen]

Hello all,

So I've been using the Autoset Respond for about 6 weeks now with an Activa standard mask. I'm still trying to figure out if it's helping me or not.

Since I don't have any real data to look at other than leakage, I was wondering if that really gives you any good info. So far I've only had it report one day of leakage the whole time. So I'm assuming that means I've got a good fit with the mask.

But I'm a bit concerned about mouth leakage. And I'm wondering if the leak data will show if you are "leaking" air out your mouth?

My wife says I occasionally open my mouth in the night but either she closes it or I close it shortly thereafter. I don't remember these occurrences usually.

I'm willing to use the dang thing, if it helps. But I certainly don't want to use it but not get the benefits of it.

So to sum up, "does the leak data give any indication of how much air is leaking out through the mouth as well as directly from the mask?"

thanks much,

Eric

[mikemoran]

I have the Spirit with Autoset. If I am leaking out my mouth it does include this in the mask leaking data. If you set the leak alarm it will actually go off because of mouth leaks as well as mask leaks. It really has no way of knowing where the leak occurs.

However, you can get more data from the clinical menu which will tell you the amount of leak as well as your AHI, AI and HI. The only thing you need is access to that menu which we lay people aren't supposed to know about.

But if you accidently hold the right arrow and the down arrow button at the same time for about three seconds or until some mysitcal data appears, I am sure you will exit promptly and not remember anything you might see.

[ehusen]

Thanks for the info. I believe that data is only provided in the Spirit, not in the Respond. I've been into the clinical menu and it seems the only options are to adjust what type of mask and pressure you are using. I'll check again tonight to make sure. (I would sure like to get teh AHI and such. Then I would have some real data to indicate how I am doing.)

It's silly because the Respond is an APAP so it must be determing that data to adjust the pressure properly. I was given the Respond intially when I knew nothing about this. Too bad, since the Spirit appears to be only 30 dollars more (with the only difference being the ability to read off that data).

Now that I think about it, it makes sense that mouth leaks cannot be seperated from mask leaks. How would the machine know where the air is whooshing out? All it can see is a drop in the pressure against the mask.