Possibly Stupid Question re: APAP vs. CPAP setting?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:06 pm

I have a Remstar Auto and am prescribed a pressure of 10. I noticed that the DME has set the machine to AFLE mode and set both the min and max pressures to 10. Is there any difference between this setting and a straight 10 setting in CFLE mode?

Handgunner45 · Post by **Handgunner45** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:20 pm

Not a bit of difference. Looks like you have one very intelligent DME!!!!!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:27 pm

NO. AFLE mode indicates Auto mode with C-Flex and CFLE mode indicates CPAP mode with C-Flex. If the AFLE doesn't have a range, it's function is essentially the same. This is the way the older autos were programmed to work at a single pressure setting before the CPAP/CFLE settings were added.

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:40 pm

only problem is your set up for cpap mode without any ramp by being in the automode. Reprogram the thing at least enable ramp so it would be easier to fall asleep.

DME's are worthless.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 6:02 pm

And if you reprogram it, the start ramp pressure will probably be at 4 CM, whitch is too low for most to breath. My Vote is to keep the ramp off and get benefit from the start. It's not that dificult even at 10, I started at 14, after they split me open. Jim

I never considered having a blow out, with no spare. If I had that would have been something else to lay there and worry about. Thank goodness, for vicoden.

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 11:36 pm

You must have an older REMstar auto. On my REMstar auto I can't set the upper and lower pressures to the same value in the AFLE mode. The firmware in your machine may be an older version that allowed that. As far as your question, no the AFLE and CFLE would be the same in this case.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:57 am

Darth Vader Look wrote:You must have an older REMstar auto. On my REMstar auto I can't set the upper and lower pressures to the same value in the AFLE mode. The firmware in your machine may be an older version that allowed that.

Really, DVL? Interesting. I just now tried it and I can set the Maximum and Minimum pressure to the same number (I tried "10") with my REMstar Auto with C-flex, in AFLE mode. My machine is about a year old, I think.

To the Guest who started this topic: if you decide you want to use ramp, be sure you change the machine's operating mode to CPAP or CFLE. Don't try to set a ramp time for your machine when it is in APAP or AFLE mode...there is no true "ramp" in those two "auto" modes. The ramp timer absolutely needs to be set for 0:00 when using the REMstar Auto with C-flex in APAP or AFLE modes. Any change to the ramp timer setting when using the REMstar in either of its auto modes would throw the machine into "split night therapy" mode.

Not that that would make any difference to an auto while the minimum and maximum pressures at set for the same number; but, nonetheless, you would not be getting a traditional ramp at all....you'd still be getting that single pressure you have going now. The only way you can get a true ramp going in the REMstar Auto with C-Flex is by first switching the operating mode to CPAP or CFLE.

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:37 am

Rested Gal: Very interesting information! Thanks for the post. Information worth keeping.

I have the Auto, currently 7-11, but may change that, since I'm at 11 most of night. I love the Auto with CFLEX.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 8:30 pm

RG wrote:

Really, DVL? Interesting. I just now tried it and I can set the Maximum and Minimum pressure to the same number (I tried "10") with my REMstar Auto with C-flex, in AFLE mode. My machine is about a year old, I think.

I've owned several non-cflex Remstar Auto's going back to firmware version 2.1, 2.4 and 2.9. I have always programmed them via the LCD display and never by any SmartCard or EncorePro method.

I just received a brand new Remstar Auto w/Cflex just day before yesterday, it has firmware version 2.6 firmware installed. Mmm... my old had 2.9.

But this Auto's setup prompts are totally different than all the previous Remstar Autos I've owned of past, even different than the Remstar Pro w/Cflex that has been my favorite machine. I remember when you got yours you rattled off the new field prompts and I said huh? Now I see.

Remstar Auto w/Cflex:
First thing I notice is it is a bit slower to enter Setup mode from LCD display. I guess there are more things to initialize when entering setup mode.

Once in Setup, I notice there are additional mode options, on the old you just had AUTO or CPAP as options that's it. This one AUTO is gone and replaced with word APAP, also added are AFLE and CFLE Cflex modes. Now, depending on which mode you select some fields come and go and change as modes change.

Also GONE are the symbols of the past, there is no longer a single Low Ramp and a High Ramp "ramp symbol" to indicate any low/high pressures used for all the available modes.

These have been replaced with words Min and Max pressure for auto modes, cpap modes are now completely seperated. If any of the XFLE modes are selected it you get an additonal prompt for the CFLEX setting.

What is even more interesting, is if you switch modes say from AFLE to CFLE, you get a complete new set of field parameters. If for example you set 6cm to 12cm on AFLE mode, then switch to CFLE mode it allows you to input only the high cpap pressure (no minimum). The minimum low or Ramp pressure is entered if the timer value is increased from 00:00, then a new field appears with Start Ramp pressure where you can now enter 6cm as a starting ramp pressure.

If you continue to scroll completely around back to mode select again, and change to AFLE mode, all your prior settings for that mode are still present. So it appears you can have completely different settings for the two different modes then just toggle the modes and it will pick up the new pressure settings for that particular mode and enable/disable any ramp.

Other notable changes: Pressure increment has changed, gone are the .2cm increments now replaced by .5cm increments. Bummer if your favorite pressure was like 6.2 or 6.4 or 6.6 or 6.8.

I also noticed if you set the Min. pressure to 6.5cm in the auto modes it will not record any data below 7cm. If you set the Min. pressure to 6.0 then it picks up logging the data in the 6cm range. Hey but it logs data in the .2cm range

This new machine (for me anyway only used it 2 nights) is a marked improvement over the old machine of the same type, even how it responds seems to be an improvement. This unit is even quieter than my Remstar Pro and older Remstar Auto's. Glad I bought one before they discontinued or sold out on it, I may even buy another if I hear the new M series is confirmed to be more noisy.

Setting Min & Max the same may not be so good:
I also tried setting it to AFLE mode, then inputting both the Min & Max pressure to the same or 12.0cm it took it no problem. Since it won't record data in the 6cm range when Min is set to 6.5cm, I suspect the problem encountered with setting both the Min & Max pressure to the same in auto modes is it will not record data below the set 12cm pressure in addition to NOT having any Ramp. So if this DME or doctor is expecting to see data below that Minimum setting they may be in for a real surprise when they go to read that data. DME's crack me up sometimes.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 8:36 pm

[quote="Handgunner45"]Not a bit of difference. Looks like you have one very intelligent DME!!!!!

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:01 pm

Play nicely punkin', or you're gonna have to go back to your room!!

Daddy

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:29 pm

Hey, Guest, ignore our resident naughty kid, he doesn't play well with others.

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:33 pm

How would we notice if it DID work??????

Jimm · Post by **Jimm** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:43 pm

Actually there is one small but interesting difference between the two modes. Using Encore Pro in AFLE mode gives you a nice spreadsheet like chart that shows things like AHI, Flow limits, SI, etc for the all pressures from 4 to 20. Of course with the same max. and min. settings the only results will be for that one pressure setting but you still get the chart. In CFLE mode, no chart.

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:46 pm

Rested Gal wrote:Really, DVL? Interesting. I just now tried it and I can set the Maximum and Minimum pressure to the same number (I tried "10") with my REMstar Auto with C-flex, in AFLE mode. My machine is about a year old, I think.

I checked the manual and it didn't say anything about not being able to set the pressures to the same in either of the auto modes but I know I did try it when I first got the unit and it didn't work. I will give it a try again and see if maybe I was having an apnea moment at the time .