Got my brand-new sparkling RemStar APAP/CFLEX today and inquired of the DME if it had been calibrated. Huh ? Pushed the point, and lo and behold the variances between set pressure and measured pressure varied between 0.5 cm and 2.1 cm. I guess if you're on APAP that really doesn't matter, but how about CPAP?
Does Anybody Calibrate Their xPAP?
In an earlier thread I described how to build a simple manometer to measure your pressure:
A simple manometer
There is also a link there to a description of a simple U-tube manometer in an earlier thread.
A simple manometer
There is also a link there to a description of a simple U-tube manometer in an earlier thread.
My original Remstar straight CPAP was off by an entire centimeter of pressure. I discovered it myself with a manometer, then had it verified by my doc.(notice, no thanks to the DME)
yet another reason to go with an autoPAP.
yet another reason to go with an autoPAP.
Remember:
What you read above is only one data point based on one person's opinion.
I am not a doctor, nor do I even play one on TV.
Your mileage may vary.
Follow ANY advice or opinions at your own risk.
Not everything you read is true.
What you read above is only one data point based on one person's opinion.
I am not a doctor, nor do I even play one on TV.
Your mileage may vary.
Follow ANY advice or opinions at your own risk.
Not everything you read is true.
homemade manometer
I also came up with a simpler way to measure the pressure that requires no extra items except a ruler- preferably a metric one.
I simply hold the end of the hose to the end of the ruler and lower it into a pan of water about 5 inches deep and turn on the pap.
then gradually raise it till water bubbles start coming out and read the measurement in cm.
works for moi
convert if using a 12 inch ruler. 2.54 cm= 1 inch
.39 in - 1 cm
I simply hold the end of the hose to the end of the ruler and lower it into a pan of water about 5 inches deep and turn on the pap.
then gradually raise it till water bubbles start coming out and read the measurement in cm.
works for moi
convert if using a 12 inch ruler. 2.54 cm= 1 inch
.39 in - 1 cm
Tomjax -
Excellent idea! Funny you should post that. A few years ago I developed a fuel gauge for my boat's diesel tank that worked on the same principle. It had a small (tiny) pump that blew a very small air stream through a pipe to the bottom of the tank. I used a solid-state pressure sensor to measure the pressure required to maintain the flow, and that pressure was a direct measure of the fluid depth in the tank. The unit displayed the fuel in gallons on a digital readout. I took it out when I sold the boat, and it sat in a drawer for five years.
I modified the unit last week, took out the pump and calibrated it to read pressure in cm. H20, and now have an electronic xPAP manometer with a digital readout. If I have time I'll post a photo tomorrow. It really is overkill, but what the heck.... it was just gathering dust. How often do you ever need to measure the pressure anyway???
Excellent idea! Funny you should post that. A few years ago I developed a fuel gauge for my boat's diesel tank that worked on the same principle. It had a small (tiny) pump that blew a very small air stream through a pipe to the bottom of the tank. I used a solid-state pressure sensor to measure the pressure required to maintain the flow, and that pressure was a direct measure of the fluid depth in the tank. The unit displayed the fuel in gallons on a digital readout. I took it out when I sold the boat, and it sat in a drawer for five years.
I modified the unit last week, took out the pump and calibrated it to read pressure in cm. H20, and now have an electronic xPAP manometer with a digital readout. If I have time I'll post a photo tomorrow. It really is overkill, but what the heck.... it was just gathering dust. How often do you ever need to measure the pressure anyway???