Time for a new BiPap VAuto, ASV, ST-A?

Hello, I've had my BiPap for over 5 years and it is starting to have some issues. I currently have the Aircurve 10 VAuto and have been happy with it. I was looking at a replacement online and see that they have a couple more expensive models, the ASVC and ST-A. Is there any benefit with going with one of those or are they only for specific medical needs? Is there a downside with going with one of them? With my insurance they would only cost me a few hundred more than the VAuto. It sounds like they have some more advanced features and algorithms but I'm not sure if they would improve anything for me or not. Your insight is greatly appreciated.

The ASV or ST-A models are specialty needs machines that unless you have some special problems either with central apneas or restrictive pulmonary issues requiring special target volume needs they really aren't indicated. If you have plan OSA and no other special problems they won't necessarily be better just because they are "special". This is a situation where more expensive and able to "do more" really isn't an advantage. The ST-A machine won't even auto adjust. Now it might be useful if you had COPD or some other neuro muscular lung disorder requiring extra ventilation but for most people it is more of a PITA than anything else. It's not even all that great for plain OSA.
ASV machines are more for either central sleep apnea or maybe when people have a combination of central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea.

Thank you for the quick reply. I forgot to mention that I do have central apnea and a pretty bad case at that. I was one of the worst the sleep tech had ever seen. It is being managed well by the VAuto and my AHI is typically 1 or less. It sounds like the ST is our but any advantage of using the ASV?

If your central apnea is resolved well (and it sounds like it is) with your current VAuto there is no real reason to go with the ASV.
ASV is for when the central apnea persists even after other measures.

Now you could probably use the ASV and get along nicely with it but it makes changes really fast and for some people that is a problem.
When it senses a central apnea it might increase the pressure 10 cm in essentially a single breath where the VAuto pressure changes aren't nearly as fast. It will auto adjust for obstructive apneas as well as central apneas and for some people the way ASV works is a bit difficult to learn to adjust to.
Now depending on what your current settings are it might be possible to restrict the ASV to work more like your VAuto but then that really doesn't gain you anything except a bigger hole in your pocketbook.

So the ASV is a possibility but you are correct the ST-A would not be suitable.
It does not sound like you actually need ASV though if your AHI is around 1 ish.

I have a mixed sleep apnea (regular OSA combined with Central) = and when I was diagnosed I was prescribed an ASV for treatment.

Recently when I forgot my ASV on a trip, I got a Air Mini to trial and found it was treating me as well as my ASV. Soon after, I had a video appointment with my sleep doctor and he said they have found that the regular CPAP can be effective in helping those who have Central Sleep Apnea, but of course since my ASV does so well for me and is still in great condition, he recommended keeping what I was using. But in the future, if I need a replacement that I can consider using a PAP device, other than the ASV, if I choose to . . .

All that to say, it could be good to keep using the device that is working so well for you . . .

krazzz wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 17, 2020 11:52 pm

Thank you for the quick reply. I forgot to mention that I do have central apnea and a pretty bad case at that. I was one of the worst the sleep tech had ever seen. It is being managed well by the VAuto and my AHI is typically 1 or less. It sounds like the ST is our but any advantage of using the ASV?

The VAuto doesn't treat central apnea, so .... I'm dubious that you were diagnosed with any at all.

There is a *HUGE* difference between the ST and the ST-A, even though there's only a -A in the name.

The ST is a primitive machine, the ST-A is near rocket science, and they're designed to treat different things. The ASV is an entirely different beast.