Bi-Level Machines and software

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:23 pm

Someone I know may be getting a bipap, so I wanted to get some info for him. Which of the machines use software? Does the auto tank-style REMSTAR BiPap use software? Can it use the same software that is used for the regular tanks? Encore Pro or Encore Viewer?

I thought the PB 425 Bi-Level did not have software, but I noticed a package that included silverlining software when I looked on cpap.com just now.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:29 pm

Don't buy the 425 for its software capabilities, is doesn't report the kind of data people with OSA can use to monitor their therapy.

O.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:24 pm

The Remstar Auto Bi-PAP, Classic And the "M"iseries Auto Bi-PAP, both use the software, in the latest version. If I had a choice, I'd go "Classic". Encore Pro 1.8i will work, I'm not sure about earlyier versions (!.7), or the new stripped down version will work to. I like "Cokes", and other real things. Jim

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:41 pm

All of the Respironics bipaps... old or new, M series or pre-M, bipap auto or plain bipap...all of them can use EncoreViewer 1.0. They can also all use Encore Pro 1.8.

Some of the older machines can use earlier versions of Encore Pro, but if you want to know which software versions work with ALL of the Respironics bilevel machines for sure, even the newest machines....either of the these do:

EncoreViewer 1.0
Encore Pro 1.8

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:03 am

ozij wrote:Don't buy the 425 for its software capabilities, is doesn't report the kind of data people with OSA can use to monitor their therapy.

O.

ozij is right. A great treatment machine it may be, but if you want detailed information from a bilevel, the PB 425 bilevel will not provide AHI data.

Here's a thread mentioning someone who called Puritan Bennett to confirm that lack:
viewtopic.php?t=273

Unfortunately, the product description about Silverlining 3.10 software doesn't make it clear that people using a PB 425 bilevel machine will NOT get detailed AHI data:

Silverlining 3.10 Product Description

Excerpts:

...both summary statistics and analysis results.
(bold emphasis mine)

It also facilitates GoodKnight 418, 420, and 425...
(including the 425 specifically makes it sound like everything described applies to that machine, too.)

Extensive patient data information
(there's no AHI data from the 425 bilevel.)

jules · Post by **jules** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:13 am

rested gal wrote:All of the Respironics bipaps... old or new, M series or pre-M, bipap auto or plain bipap...all of them can use EncoreViewer 1.0. They can also all use Encore Pro 1.8.

Some of the older machines can use earlier versions of Encore Pro, but if you want to know which software versions work with ALL of the Respironics bilevel machines for sure, even the newest machines....either of the these do:

EncoreViewer 1.0
Encore Pro 1.8

I think there may be one small error above -------- these are data capable bipaps -- remember there is a bipap plus which is totally worthless for data.

For the Auto Bipap tank you need 1.5 or later, for the m series 1.6 or later.

I think there is a bipap Pro2 tank and that might need just 1.4 (or even 1.3) or later.

Some of the more specialized bipaps ( like for treating centrals) might have a card but the data you get isn't AHI.

And if you are using Vista you need the latest. If you are using a pre-XP OS you have to be careful on what you wish for as you need XP for version 1.5 or later.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:23 am

jules wrote:I think there may be one small error above -------- these are data capable bipaps -- remember there is a bipap plus which is totally worthless for data.

Jules, you're right. I was not thinking of the "Plus", and I should have. LOL!! Thank you for the correction. None of the Respironics machines with "Plus" in their name can give any useful data at all...just hours of use. Duh, Laura!!

jules wrote:Some of the more specialized bipaps ( like for treating centrals) might have a card but the data you get isn't AHI.

I think of those special machines for treating centrals as AVS (Adaptive Servo Ventilation) machines, rather than as traditional bilevel machines. However, I do believe the BiPAP Auto SV might give AHI data with EncoreViewer or Encore 1.8. Not sure, as I've not used that specialized machine.

jules wrote:And if you are using Vista you need the latest. If you are using a pre-XP OS you have to be careful on what you wish for as you need XP for version 1.5 or later.

Good point about needing at least either EncoreViewer 1.0 or Encore Pro 1.8 if the computer operating system is Vista...regardless of what the the xpap machine can use.

jules · Post by **jules** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:56 am

for bipap ST read this and the threads marked in my post there

viewtopic.php?p=219547&highlight=#219547

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:55 pm

Thank you everyone. This is a very thorough discussion of the subject. I will see what type of machine he needs and can use this information to help him figure it out. I found the SV information helpful, too. These things are way beyond my understanding, but I'm learning some things gradually.

You all are a great group of people here!