Disable EPR on Resmed machines? Any APAP without EPR?

[DebbieDeb]

My Resmed Autoset S8 II machine lowers the pressure too much even with EPR set to 1. I've read a few posters that say they don't use EPR at all. Is that option only on the S9? If it's possible on the S8, please let me know how to disable it.

Also, are there any APAP machines that don't have the EPR function? Any Apap machines that use a short time period (ie. 5 secs) instead of inhalation to return to normal pressure?

[scrapper]

See PM

[msradar65]

I have S9 and yes you can turn EPR off.

[ozij]

You can set EPR to 0 on the S8 too.

[Jessica N.]

My Resmed Autoset S8 II machine lowers the pressure too much even with EPR set to 1. I've read a few posters that say they don't use EPR at all. Is that option only on the S9? If it's possible on the S8, please let me know how to disable it.

Also, are there any APAP machines that don't have the EPR function? Any Apap machines that use a short time period (ie. 5 secs) instead of inhalation to return to normal pressure?

Hi there, I was just roaming around the internet looking at CPAP boards. I work for an HME/DME and I do all of our CPAP/BiLevel/ASV setup's. You CAN disable the EPR on a Resmed s8. You must access the clinical menu and it can be completely disabled. Hold down your "down arrow" and your "right arrow" at the same time and hold for 3-5 seconds. You will be prompted into a "Clinical Menu." You can then go down to "Settings." In "Settings" there will be a function stating "EPR" and you can "turn off."

I have typically used Respironics over the last 5 years in doing Sleep Therapy, as docs in our area script Respironics. But Resmed is a great brand with very comparable equip. Forgive me if this is not the exact prompts you get, as I do not have a machine right in front of me. If you have problems let me know, and I can break it down step by step a little better for you.

All brands (Respironics, Resmed, Fisher&Paykel, Devilbiss, etc) have a type of pressure relief, they all just call it something different. IE: Resmed=EPR(expiratory pressure relief), Respironics=C-flex/A-Flex/Bi-flex, etc etc...
EPR has been featured for many series on all brands just called so in different ways. Furthermore it has always been an option to disable this feature. Your DME should talk to you about this at time of setup and explain the feature to you, let you try it out, and show you how to adjust the setting. It's like knowing how to adjust your humidity setting. YOU control that feature-- don't let your DME bully you into not knowing about it! "You don't need to know," "It's prescribed by your doctor," etc etc.. It's not true! You have the right to know!

Hope this helps. If you can't get it, go to your local DME and have them access the menu and disable the feature. EPR is NOT a prescribed setting by your physician and can be changed without a Dr's order!!




Cheers and good sleep!

[DebbieDeb]

Thanks for the responses. I checked and actually my S8 EPR setting is at 0. However, the machine still lowers the pressure after each breath. I contacted Resmed and asked how the "Easy Breathe" technology differed from EPR. At first, they said it didn't, but when I pointed out that their literature said "ResMed has taken the clinically effective and patient-preferred comfort of EPR and combined it with Easy-Breathe technology ", they said it was separate and couldn't be disabled. I asked what "Easy Breathe" actually did and they gave me the high tech answer about waveforms and referred me to their vague online documentation.

I kept digging and found the following on the talkaboutsleep forum:
"Like natural breathing, Easy-Breathe fills the lungs gradually, leaving patients relaxed."
"Easy-Breathe features a dual-stage motor that delivers superior performance at half the effort, cutting device noise to less than 25 dB."

So I believe there's the likelihood of an event after each breath since the machine waits for you to inhale. After 10-15 seconds, it returns to normal pressure if inhalation isn't detected (no details on how fast). The rep couldn't tell me why the wait was so long nor the logic behind this feature. I think Respironics has a similar feature but only waits 5 seconds for you to inhale.

If I could inhale without my prescribed pressure, I wouldn't need CPAP would I? I just know that I don't feel as rested when I use my S8. Plus, when I'm not completely exhausted and fall asleep gradually, I notice the pressure drop when I exhale despite the EPR setting.

I'm going to check with my DME on getting a different brand of machine. I know my S7 won't last forever.

[the cmh]

So i have a question i have the resmed elite 2, and I was playing around with it a changed the settings i have it back on the pressure its supposed to be at but i don't know about the other aspects of it, and why do I want to turn the epr off?

[Pugsy]

So i have a question i have the resmed elite 2, and I was playing around with it a changed the settings i have it back on the pressure its supposed to be at but i don't know about the other aspects of it, and why do I want to turn the epr off?

Answered in your other thread.

[VikingGnome]

I was fiddling with settings on my S9 ELITE last night. I noticed there's a setting besides EPR. It's under the clinician menu under OPTIONS instead of settings. It's called "EPR inhale". By default it is set at MED but you can change that to FAST. I assume that might fix your problem.