what is the best auto bipap biflex?

[nmevan]

I've had the same bipap for 4 years…respironics system one auto bipap biflex…wondering if there is a better model out there?

thank you

evan

[robysue]

The Series 60 BiPAP Auto with Bi-Flex (model number **760**) was released a year or a year and a half ago as I recall. The Series 50 heated humidifier is NOT compatible with the Series 60 machines, so if you update, you'll have to update the heated humidifier as well

It's very similiar to the older Series 50 BiPAP Autos, but does offer the following changes:

New with the Series 60 BiPAP Auto with Bi-Flex:

• An optional heated hose which does require a special version of the heated humidifier and a different power brick than a Series 60 without a heated hose.
• A bit more data available on the machine's LCD. There's now a 1-day AHI number and a 1-day Leak number on the machine's LCD. If you're running in Auto, there's a 1-day 90% pressure level reading as well.
• Change in the comfort settings that can be directly accessed from the patient's set up menu provided the DME has not locked the machine down. In particular, setting or resetting the following things no longer requires getting into the clinical menu:
  • Ramp time as well as starting ramp pressure.
  • Hose type---choice of 15ml or 22ml is now available. Not all of the older series 50 System One machines were able to use 15ml hoses.
  • Silent mode is now available: In silent mode the machine does NOT beep every time you turn the machine off and on.

The Auto algorithm is unchanged as far as I can tell. The total efficacy data that is recorded onto the SD card (and the internal memory) is the same. The Series 60 BiPAP Auto is compatible with the most recent version of Sleepy Head. For Encore, you do need Encore Basic or a newer version of Encore Pro; if I recall correctly the Series 60 machines are not compatible with EncoreViewer 2.1.

[JDS74]

If you are happy with the "feel" of your current machine, the new 760 model will feel the same.
If you are thinking of switching to a ResMed S9 equivalent, it will give good treatment but may feel different for a while as the way the IPAP and EPAP are treated are different between the two manufacturers. PR allows them to vary independently while ResMed has them in lock step for pressure changes. There are other differences in the way they behave but this one is the most noticeable.

[Pugsy]

For Encore, you do need Encore Basic or a newer version of Encore Pro; if I recall correctly the Series 60 machines are not compatible with EncoreViewer 2.1.

The model 760/660/560/460 is compatible with Viewer 2.1 but the 960 is not compatible. M series machines as well as the 50 series PR S1 machines are also compatible.
Viewer 2.0 is not compatible with any 60 series machine. Respironics came out with Viewer 2.1 about 5 or 6 months after Basic was released to address both the 32 bit vs 64 bit issue and the 60 series machine compatibility.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/encore ... onics.html

wondering if there is a better model out there?

The 2 main players in the bilevel machine market are Respironics and ResMed. ResMed calls their bilevel machines VPAPs.
I happen to have owned and used both brands. Minor pros and cons with either but none are deal breakers or makers.
The ResMed VPAP that would be comparible to the model 760 would be the S9 VPAP Auto.
Main difference would be the PS variability options which really is not that big of a deal and since the new 760s PS now offers a minimum and maximum PS...it can function like the VPAP Auto easily by just setting PS minimum to equal PS maximum and it will work just like the VPAP Auto PS works.
Respironics BiPaps still offer BiFlex....ResMed doesn't offer EPR in bilevel modes because EPR is pretty much what EPR does but with greater than 3.0 reduction available.

With the 760 having the heated hose option and the ability for PS to be fixed or varied now...pretty much evens the playing field between the 2 brands. It's a toss up but since you have been using the BiPap for 4 years I think I would stick with PR S1 if it were me. The 2 brands do go about their job in a little different manner in terms of algorithm and you might notice a difference (you might not) and sometimes the body doesn't really care for "different". I did well with both myself but then my body deals with "different" easily because I often try new things when I can.

[robysue]

For Encore, you do need Encore Basic or a newer version of Encore Pro; if I recall correctly the Series 60 machines are not compatible with EncoreViewer 2.1.

The model 760/660/560/460 is compatible with Viewer 2.1 but the 960 is not compatible. M series machines as well as the 50 series PR S1 machines are also compatible.
Viewer 2.0 is not compatible with any 60 series machine. Respironics came out with Viewer 2.1 about 5 or 6 months after Basic was released to address both the 32 bit vs 64 bit issue and the 60 series machine compatibility.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/encore ... onics.html

I knew I could count on you to give me the correct information. Thanks!

wondering if there is a better model out there?

The 2 main players in the bilevel machine market are Respironics and ResMed. ResMed calls their bilevel machines VPAPs.

Yeah, I should have mentioned the S9 VPAP. However since the OP was asking specifically about BiPAP with BiFlex, I didn't think about that.

There is one thing that should be noted if the OP wants to contemplate switching to the S9 VPAP and that's the fact that the Resmed S9 VPAP Auto must increase the EPAP and IPAP at the same time, whereas the PR BiPAP Auto can and usually does adjust EPAP and IPAP independently of each other. And that could make the VPAP feel quite a bit different.

In retrospect I'm quite happy that the S9 VPAP Auto was not yet around when I was switched from my S9 AutoSet to bilevel. One benefit of going with the System One has turned out to be the fact that the System One can increase my IPAP as needed without increasing my EPAP. And so the EPAP only is increased when it really needs to be increased. And I think that's been a critical factor in why I have less aerophagia with the BiPAP running in Auto than I had on either the S9 AutoSet (in both Auto and CPAP modes) or my BiPAP in fixed modes. I just can't tolerate an EPAP of 6 cm full time, but there are periods of the night where I need EPAP = 6.