Breeze flow rate

I've raised this topic before. In looking at the manual that came with my Breeze, it has a "flow rate" of 26 liters per minute at 13cm. Am I to assume at the end of the night that when I look at my LCD screen on my Autoset Spirit that a leak rate of .40 L/s is acceptable?

Is my math wrong if I multiply 60(number of seconds in a minute) by my leak rate .40 l/s to convert to lters per minute. Does "flow rate" have anything to do with leak rate?

Thanks-Bob

I would think that flow rate is just the figure describing the rate at which air is being supplied, but I don't think there's any connection to how few or many leaks you have wearing your mask.

hrc54 wrote:I've raised this topic before. In looking at the manual that came with my Breeze, it has a "flow rate" of 26 liters per minute at 13cm. Am I to assume at the end of the night that when I look at my LCD screen on my Autoset Spirit that a leak rate of .40 L/s is acceptable?

As I understand it, with a ResMed machine any leak rate reported to be no higher than .40 is supposed to be fine.

hrc54 wrote:Is my math wrong if I multiply 60(number of seconds in a minute) by my leak rate .40 l/s to convert to lters per minute.

My math is almost always wrong, but that's the way I understand you'd convert it, too.

hrc54 wrote:Does "flow rate" have anything to do with leak rate?

On the charts that come with masks showing the rate of air escaping out the exhaust vents of masks, I think manufacturers are using "flow rate" to mean the same thing as "leak rate"...yes. Some of them call that built-in "normal leak" from their masks one thing; some the other.

The actual "leak rate" we see in the data recorded by a machine could, of course, be a leak from anywhere. From mouth (if not wearing a FF mask), from mask, from a bad hose connection, hole in the hose...anywhere. As long as the leak stays low, no worries.

Interesting information!

So if I am understand correctly on my vantage machine if it reports a leak rate in the morning of .70 L/s then 60 min. times .70 = 42 L/m is pretty much near an acceptable reading? Or am I misunderstanding restedgal's explination?

Thanks

tim wrote:Interesting information!

So if I am understand correctly on my vantage machine if it reports a leak rate in the morning of .70 L/s then 60 min. times .70 = 42 L/m is pretty much near an acceptable reading? Or am I misunderstanding restedgal's explination?

Thanks

I believe that is correct.

- roberto

Tim, RG. & other thanks so much for responses. After 17 months I'm still struggling but now have 4-5 great night a week. Looking at the Breeze brochure I'm thinking that the "flow rate" means the "leak rate" reported on the Vantage, AutoSpirit etc. You just have to do the conversion to minutes by multiplying by 60.

A few months ago I spoke to Resmed & they said a leak rate of anything under .40 l/s was acceptable.

I saw a post from somebody who uses the Breeze & has a Resmed Autospirit & (he or she) reported a leak rate of "0". I've tried everyway possible to configure the Breeze but for me no way. sir_circumference has been instrumental in getting me to the point where the Breeze doesn't press against my nose. I gave up on the Breeze & thanks to him it now is the best interface for me. I now use it exclusively.

Thanks-Bob

So then if no more than .40L/s (resmed acceptable leak) times 60 min. = 24L/m, then aprox 24L/m is the max. acceptable leak? So the Aprox 40L/m is not so good? Can anyone clarify?

Thank you
M

On ResMed machines, the leak rate displayed in Liters/sec. is the leak the machine is calculating AFTER wht it expects is the normal exhaust (bias) rate of the particular mask that you are using. That's why you have to set the mask you're using in the ResMed's menu, so it knows what to expect and calculates a leak rate BEYOND the bias rate. Anything under 0.40L/s will allow ResMed's algorithm to continue to operate properly. Beyond that degrades the algorithm. You should strive for the LOWEST leak rate that you can get, and I typically ran 0.06L/s or less with my S8 Vantage and my Swift.

On Respironics machines, it calculates TOTAL leakage (in Liters/MINUTE). That's the leakage through the exhaust ports as well as mask leaks. In additon, it classifies breaks in the circuit such as taking the mask off, a popped connection, or mouth leaks as "Large Leaks". You want "Large Leaks " to be as close to 0 as possible, and "Leaks" to be as close to the bias rate that each manufacturer reports for their product.

Hope this helps.

Chuck

M-

If you're reporting Liters/minute, then you're not using a ResMed machine. In that case, your 40 L/min. may not be bad if that's the bias rate for the mask you're using. You simply want the leak reported in EncorePro to be as close to the bias rate of the mask as you can, and have NO LARGE LEAKS!

Cheers!!!

GoofyUT:

I am confused! I do have the res-vantage machine! dreamstalker(roberto) answered my question above in his answer to Tim but from your reply it seems like a different answer to the question! Could you clarify or better yet tell use how and if the conversion from L/s To L/m takes place and what numbers after conversion to L/m are good on the vantage machine, etc.

Thanks for help,
Margaret

M wrote:GoofyUT:

I am confused! I do have the res-vantage machine! dreamstalker(roberto) answered my question above in his answer to Tim but from your reply it seems like a different answer to the question! Could you clarify or better yet tell use how and if the conversion from L/s To L/m takes place and what numbers after conversion to L/m are good on the vantage machine, etc.

Thanks for help,
Margaret

I was stating that your math is correct.

Chuck was stating that if you have the ResMed machine, the reading you get from the LED monitor is the leak rate after subtracting the "exhaust rate" inherent in the mask ... in other words, ResMed shows leakrate as excess leakage beyond what is normal for the mask ... it may include leaks from the interface itself, from the hose connections, or from your mouth.

Hope that clears up your question ...

-roberto

Also forgot to add ... If you are using the Breeze, there is no mask setting for it on ResMed machines. Consequently, you will have to set it to a ResMed mask that has a similar "exaust" leak rate. Hence, the ResMed LED readout will still not accurately display the correct leak rate but it should be close enough.

... and one more thing: check out this link for normal exaust rates for the breeze explained by Rested Gal - viewtopic.php?p=103852&highlight=leak+r ... ift#103852

roberto:

Thank you so much for your quick reply! Greatly appreciated! Understand now! But what is troubling me is "What is an aprox acceptable leak rate for the vantage after conversion? Which would then be L/minuite!

Thank you, roberto,

Margaret

M wrote:roberto:

Thank you so much for your quick reply! Greatly appreciated! Understand now! But what is troubling me is "What is an aprox acceptable leak rate for the vantage after conversion? Which would then be L/minuite!

Thank you, roberto,

Margaret

As Chuck and Rested Gal both pointed out above ... 0.4 L/s (or 24 L/m) or less is acceptable for the ResMed machines ... the number taken from the ResMed LED should be less than about 0.4 ... above that indicates you have unacceptable leak from mask/face interface, hose line, and/or mouth.

- roberto

roberto:

Perfect-got it! Thank you so much! Really appreciate your reply and making it clear to me!

Thanks,

Margaret

Hi all-

I think I've got it. When setting the Vantage to the "Activa" setting for my masks-with a leak rate of 35 lpm(liters per minute) at 12 cm- the Vantage compensates assuming my mask has got the same leak rate. However, the leak rate of the Breeze at 12 cm is 25 lpm. My question (to those who are more techie than me) is would I be overtitrating myself considering my mask leak rate is less than the setting that I tell my Vantage to assume?

Thanks-Bob