BiPap Question - Spontaneous Timed Mode

Looks like Imswitching to a BiPap tomorrow. Im guessing theyll bring me a ResMed since thats what I have always used. I see ResMed has 5 BiLevels though.

http://www.resmed.com/en-us/products/de ... u=products

Im assuming Ill still be able to use my software but wasnt sure if all Bi-Levels are fully compatiable and also if their are any other features I should make sure that a BiLevel is capable of. SUch as "Spontaneous Timed mode" WHat is this and should I be sure to have it? I dont think the Malibu has data? SO Im guessing I need the III or III ST but not sure what the Spontaneous Timed Mode is?

Carrie,
They probably won't bring you an ST unless you stop breathing... it's a timed breathing version of a bi-level

Thanks so much for your response. I wasnt sure what the difference was they said they were bringing the III but couldnt bring the III-ST so sounds like thats just fine.

PS Is there any MAJOR advantages to the Respironics BiLevel?

Biggest one that I can see... unless they've called it something else, is that I also have Bi-Flex... and you don't have EPR.

In the "Timed Breathing Department"...... I have the Respironics Bipap Auto SV and it has that feature. They recommend I leave it in "Automatic" and they
are correct in doing so. My breaths per minute varies every night...from an average low of 11.9 to an average high of 17.2. (Averaged over the entire night's breathing)

I would not want to second guess my lungs and body with an artificial timing.
My guess is we all breathe at varied rates. They say 12-20 is typical. But my
Encore Pro software shows I go under 12 and over 20 all the time at night. I
have no idea why and frankly not sure I want to know.

And I do quit breathing at night, software indicates the machine breathes for
me between ...uh...150 to a little over 300 times a night, depending on how I
am doing medically. Be VERY glad you don't need that function.

Bi Flex is EPR right? DO you really need epr when the exhale pressure is set to a lower pressure?

CarrieS wrote:Bi Flex is EPR right? DO you really need epr when the exhale pressure is set to a lower pressure?

No, Bi-flex is not EPR, nor does Bi-flex work like EPR, if you mean the "EPR" feature in resmed machines.

Bi-Flex gives a bit deeper drop to the beginning of the already lower EPAP pressure in a Respironics BiPAP machine...every time you start to exhale. It affects the beginning of the exhalation and lets the "regular" already lower EPAP pressure come in before the exhalation is finished.

Bi-flex also smooths out the transition between exhale/inhale, as best I can tell when using it. Feels that way, anyway.

I think of Bi-Flex as icing on the cake comfort, making breathing out feel like exhaling into an empty hose. A BiPAP machine is comfortable anyway, because of the lower exhale pressure. Bi-flex turned on in a BiPAP gives even more comfort to the beginning of that lower exhale pressure.

You ask a good question (if we phrase it a little differently) regarding Respironics bipaps and the bipap auto... "DO you really need bi-flex when the exhale pressure is set to a lower pressure?"

For people who are prescribed high pressures for both the IPAP and EPAP, bi-flex could certainly make quite a comfort difference for them, making it much easier to get started breathing out each time. Speaking just for me and not needing high pressures (an effective straight pressure for me would be 10 or 11) I use the bipap auto with bi-flex turned on because it feels soooo comfortable -- so much like natural breathing.

That "icing on the cake comfort" I mentioned about Bi-Flex dropping the beginning of the already lower EPAP pressure gives me a feeling of there being no resistance whatsoever when I breathe out, even though I have my EPAP pressure set at 9.

I've used several different models of bi-level machines by both Respironics and resmed. By far the more comfortable to me are the Respironics BiPAP and the BiPAP Auto. Probably because of the Bi-Flex feature that can be turned on in them. When I don't turn on Bi-Flex, the Respironics BiPAP feels just like the resmed VPAP III (their bi-level) does. Not quite as comfortable to me without Bi-Flex on.

Do I need that feature? No. Like it? Yes!

If I'm going to spend a third of the remainder of my life "sleeping", and I'm going to be using this inherently uncomfortable kind of treatment (which I am, 100%) then I want ALL the comfort I can get, right there along with effective treatment.

A bipap st has a back up rate of 8. Does the 8 combine with the pt.'s normal breaths or does it make sure the patient gets a least 8 breaths if they dip below 8?