Maximum cpap pressure

Respironics cpap machines are listed at 20 cm pressure maximum. I have read that they are capable of producing higher pressures although 20 is the highest setting they allow. If an auto cpap is set with a max pressure of 20 and you have an apnea at 20 will it increase to 21 to eliminate the apnea or does it stay at its rated pressure of 20 and allow the apneas to happen. If an auto cpap allows an apnea to happen at 20 it may be necessary to go to bipap when your pressure requirements near 20. I assume that this is the case but I don't really know how the machine is programmed to work. I would appreciate knowing the answer to this. Thanks.
GeneS

Auto CPAPs have a set max and min pressure, and they do not go above (or below) those values.

The max and min are separate from the max value the machine will allow (although of course you can't set your maximum higher than the machine's maximum, much like you can't set the pressure on a regular CPAP higher than the machine's maximum).

So no, an Auto machine will not go higher than the machine's rated maximum, but not directly because of that rated maximum. Rather, because to do so would exceed your set maximum, which itself can not exceed the machine's rated maximum.

Hope that helps,

Liam, who hopes that helps.

Different machines have different top pressure limitations.

A respironics bi-pap can go up to a pressure of 25.

http://bipap.respironics.com/

O.