Acceptable leak rate?

Is the acceptable leak rate equipment-specific?

For instance, would my acceptable leak rate (using nasal pillows and a Remstar System one machine) be different from someone who is using a different mask/machine combo? And is this also pressure-setting dependent?

I have no large leaks at all. My leak rate has been as low as 19 and as high as 31, tending towards the upper 20s.

Is this considered acceptable?

Thanks in advance for helping this still-newbie understand her results.

Debbie

Leak rates will vary from mask to mask. How they are reported will vary from machine.
All masks have what is called the intentional vent rate/flow/leak that will vary from pressure to pressure. The higher the pressure the higher the intentional leak. Generally full face masks will have a higher baseline vent rate than nasal pillow type of mask.
Some machines will take into account the intentional leak when they do a "mask selection" feature. Some machines do not.
Not sure exactly how the PR System One figures their reported leak rate. ResMed machines subtract the vent rate from what they report. My M series machine reports it all and I have to mentally subtract my vent rate at my given pressure.

Your mask should have come with some paperwork that shows a little graph of the expected vent rate at various pressures. A person then compares their pressure to the graph and finds the spot which fits their pressure.

I cannot comment on your reported leak rate because I don't know exactly how the System One factors things regarding the mask. Though it certainly sounds like it is on the minimal side.
Someone that does use it will likely chime in. If you cannot find your expected intentional vent rate paper work just tell us exactly which mask you are using and at what pressure. Someone could then figure it out or find the graph for you.

Thanks! I'll go hunt up that documentation.

Debbie

Debbie, see the intentional (venting) leak rate of this kind of mask here according to your set pressure:

http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/documen ... er_eng.pdf

So if you got a CPAP that indicates a total leak rate for the intentional (venting) PLUS the non-intentional, then you deduct the intentional and find the non-intentional. If it's more than 24 Liters a minute then you should do something about it. If you are a mouth breather then using a full face mask could help a lot.