Shutting of Ramp with a REMstar Auto M series?

I did a search for shutting off ramp and got some hits from '04-'06. I was uneasy with the replies so I'm asking a slightly different question.

I'm using a REMstar Auto M and have been on it for a month. I'd like to shut off the ramp feature. Reading thru the manual, there is no mention of ramp time or turning the ramp on/off. I can however adjust the ramp starting pressure. Currently, it starts at 4cm, runs for an indeterminate period, then build to what I assume is my minimum auto setting, which is 6cm.

It seems logical that simply starting the ramp pressure at 6cm would be the equivalent of bypassing the ramp feature, but I'm concerned that because there is a time feature, the auto capability wouldn't work until the ramp time has expired.

Does this sound reasonable? If you have a REMstar Auto M, how did you deal with disabling ramp. I have access to the clinician screens. - Mike

PS - elsewhere, someone mentioned that the ramp button would toggle the ramp feature on/off. My pressures are very subtle so I may not be observing correctly, but if I press the ramp feature, my machine seems to be resetting to the beginning of the ramp period.

Try these:

Den



Hold down the <- -> buttons while plugging in the little power cord in the back, wait for 2 beeps release buttons. Then press the + key to enter setup mode, use the <- -> buttons to move to the next field, use the -/+ keys to decrease/increase values, when set press the On/Off button to exit Setup.

Therapy Mode = CPAP/AUTO (If Auto is selected, there will be A-Flex or C-Flex options)
CPAP Pressure = NN (only appears in CPAP mode).
AutoMax = 20 cm (default)
AutoMin = 4.0cm (default)
C-Flex Setting = Off, 1, 2 or 3
Ramp Time = (0:05 to 0:45)
Ramp Start Pressure = 4.0cm (can be from 4cm to AutoMin pressure).
Mask Alert = On/Off (beeps on large leak, mask removal).
Auto Off = Off (turns off machine on large leak/mask removal) Suggest leaving it "Off"
Split Night Time = Off (options are Off, 120, 180, 240) Should be "Off"
Show AHI/Leak = On (enables logging to display) Suggest leaving it "On"
Patient Reminder = Off (days to remind you that you get a new mask w/Insurance).
returns to Therapy Mode
Pressing On/Off exits Setup



==========Resetting LCD Display Data====================

To reset LCD Therapy data (does NOT erase any data from SmartCard):

1. Hold down the (<-) (->) buttons while plugging in the power on the back,
wait for 2 beeps or 5 seconds, release buttons.
2. Press the (->) key and navigate to Therapy screen.
3. Press and HOLD down the (-) minus key for 5 seconds and/or until therapy data is reset to Zero.
4. Press the (->) key to scroll back to main menu, press (+) key to enter Setup or
On/Off button to exit.

mhorowit wrote:PS - elsewhere, someone mentioned that the ramp button would toggle the ramp feature on/off. My pressures are very subtle so I may not be observing correctly, but if I press the ramp feature, my machine seems to be resetting to the beginning of the ramp period.

Your observation is correct. That's what the ramp button is supposed to do if you wake up in the middle of the night and deliberately press the ramp button again. Even if you have ramp turned "off" in the therapy setup menu.

mhorowit wrote:I'm concerned that because there is a time feature, the auto capability wouldn't work until the ramp time has expired.

Right. The machine won't vary the pressure as needed, until the ramp time (if a ramp time has been set) has expired.

The user can change the ramp starting pressure and the time, but the only way you can turn ramp completely off is by going into the therapy setup menu (Den posted how to access that menu) and setting the ramp time (called "Autoramp" instead of "Ramp" in the menu if machine is set for auto mode) to "0:00" in the M series auto. If 0:00 is set for Ramp (Autoramp) time, the menu will skip asking for a Ramp Start Pressure.

Of course, even if ramp is enabled by having a certain amount of time set for it, simply NOT pressing the ramp button will make the machine start out not using ramp. Ramp can happen only if the person deliberately presses the ramp button.

Here's a handy little tip (thanks to Mikesus, long ago) -- and might be what you're experiencing, mhorowit, if you've already set Autoramp time to 0:00 in the therapy setup menu:

Say that you have the M autopap set for a treatment range of 7 - 20. And that you have Autoramp time set for 0:00 in the settings menu. You wake up in the middle of the night with the machine blowing hard, and you'd like to start over at less pressure. You don't have to turn the machine off and back on again. You can just hit the ramp button. The machine will drop down immediately to the minimum pressure in its set range. It will drop down to 7 in that example range of 7 - 20. Even though you have the ramp time set for "0:00" in the therapy setup menu, pressing the ramp button at any time will make the autopap drop down to the minimum pressure.

But since Autoramp time is 0:00, the machine will not have to wait to continue "auto-titrating" (varying the pressure as needed.) Even though pressing the RAMP button made it drop down immediately to the minimum pressure, it will continue treating...again slowly varying the pressure as needed.

P.S. If you go into the therapy setup menu -- if you see something called "Split Night Time", be sure to keep that setting turned OFF, as Den mentioned in his example of the menu items list.

You didn't say what the max pressure is set at. I would think you may want to set the beginning ramp pressure at your minimum pressure that way you can at least use the ramp if your pressure is up high and you wake up and need a few minutes to fall back alseep. You can change the ramp pressure to your minimum pressure and set the time to a short time such as five minutes.
Just an option to consider.
Gerry

Many people don't seem to know that if you simply put your mask on and begin breathing the machine will auto start all by itself, NO buttons to push. Just make sure you have a good seal. Some masks are a bit more difficult than others.

There is NO menu setting for this so it cannot be turned off.

Gerryk wrote:You didn't say what the max pressure is set at. I would think you may want to set the beginning ramp pressure at your minimum pressure that way you can at least use the ramp if your pressure is up high and you wake up and need a few minutes to fall back alseep. You can change the ramp pressure to your minimum pressure and set the time to a short time such as five minutes.
Just an option to consider.
Gerry

Very good suggestion, Gerry.

Wulfman wrote:Try these:

Den


Therapy Mode = CPAP/AUTO (If Auto is selected, there will be A-Flex or C-Flex options)
CPAP Pressure = NN (only appears in CPAP mode).
AutoMax = 20 cm (default)
AutoMin = 4.0cm (default)
C-Flex Setting = Off, 1, 2 or 3
Ramp Time = (0:05 to 0:45)
Ramp Start Pressure = 4.0cm (can be from 4cm to AutoMin pressure).
Mask Alert = On/Off (beeps on large leak, mask removal).
Auto Off = Off (turns off machine on large leak/mask removal) Suggest leaving it "Off"
Split Night Time = Off (options are Off, 120, 180, 240) Should be "Off"
Show AHI/Leak = On (enables logging to display) Suggest leaving it "On"
Patient Reminder = Off (days to remind you that you get a new mask w/Insurance).
returns to Therapy Mode
Pressing On/Off exits Setup

Den - what you show is consistent with my readings except Ramp Time/AutoRamp and RampStartPressure do not appear! Suggestions? - Mike

rested gal wrote: Of course, even if ramp is enabled by having a certain amount of time set for it, simply NOT pressing the ramp button will make the machine start out not using ramp. Ramp can happen only if the person deliberately presses the ramp button.

RG - The machine will go right to Ramp; the only way not to go to ramp is apparently to set the Ramp Time to 0:00. Your session can be reset to the beginning of the Ramp period by pressing the Ramp button, but my observation is that unless I reset the time, I'm going to get the ramp period at least once. Now you have more experience so I'll defer to you, but I can tell you what I"ve observed. - Mike

GumbyCT wrote:Many people don't seem to know that if you simply put your mask on and begin breathing the machine will auto start all by itself, NO buttons to push. Just make sure you have a good seal. Some masks are a bit more difficult than others.

There is NO menu setting for this so it cannot be turned off.

Gumby - I brought this up at our monthly CPAP Support Group, and others have observed the same. It appears to be an "iffy" thing. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. Could be as you say, we don't have a proper seal - Mike

mhorowit wrote:Den - what you show is consistent with my readings except Ramp Time/AutoRamp and RampStartPressure do not appear! Suggestions? - Mike

Kindly tell us what your settings are and perhaps we can figure out WHY your machine is misbehaving and always going into Ramp.

Also, check your PMs (Private Messages).


Den

GumbyCT wrote:

mhorowit wrote:Den - what you show is consistent with my readings except Ramp Time/AutoRamp and RampStartPressure do not appear! Suggestions? - Mike

Kindly tell us what your settings are and perhaps we can figure out WHY your machine is misbehaving and always going into Ramp.

OK, here you go:
Therapy Mode = AUTO
AutoMax = 20
AutoMin=4
C-Flex Setting = 1
Mask Alert = OFF
AutoOff = Off
Split Night Time = Off
Show AHI/Leak = On
Patient Reminder = Off

That's it; nothing to do with ramp

- Mike

Mike you cannot ramp down from 4 it is indeed the very lowest setting. Try changing autoMin to 10 then a Ramp of 7. Take a nap or just try it to make sure you can tolerate having some air to breath.