C-Flex vs. BiPap

Can anyone tell me how much difference there is between C-Flex and BiPap therapy? I understand specifically the difference between the 2 machines, I am just curious if anyone has used both and could tell me the difference in terms of how it worked for you.

To further muddy the waters, you can get a Bipap machine with CFlex technology....

BiPAP Pro 2 (BiFlex)

I use a BiPAP at 14 IPAP/10 EPAP. BiPAP helps me exhale a lot better than C-FLEX on a straight CPAP pressure. BiPAP also feels more natural to me as it breathes with me. C-FLEX, as I understand it, only lessens the pressure slightly when you exhale, and certainly not as much as a Bilevel or BiPAP machine.
FF

DCTom wrote:Can anyone tell me how much difference there is between C-Flex and BiPap therapy? I understand specifically the difference between the 2 machines, I am just curious if anyone has used both and could tell me the difference in terms of how it worked for you.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): bipap, C-FLEX

My 0.2 cents worth

C-Flex can be adjusted to 3 different range settings. The way it works is that the machine monitors your breathing in and when it detects reverse pressure (breathing out) it drops the cms pressure to a lower level based on the selected settings.

When it detects your out breath is slowing it runs the pressure *quickly* back up to normal

In CPAP (CFLE) the pressure run-up goes to your set cms pressure, in an AUTO (AFLE) the pressure runs up to the current mean average the machine is working to.

I no longer use CFLEX. The reasoning ...
1) It was good when I got started. It did help greatly to ease the burden of breathing out thru my nose against the 15cms I was using when in CFLE mode. I am sure this applies to most new xPAPers.

2) I became convinced that it was the sudden run up after exhalation that was causing a number of issues ...
-1) Many more mask leaks (esp if there was a little bit of rainout)
-2) Mouth puffing - am convinced the rapid run-up was causing mouth puffs - these have almost gone since I turned CFLE off (ask Lori I believe she discovered the same)
-3) Aerophagia. I am also convinced that CFLEX contributes to excessive aerophagia.

************** BI-PAP ***********

The main difference with a BiPAP is that the in and out pressure can be precisely set and as I understand it these machines are finely tuned to tracking the patients breathing vs AUTOs which are not as finely tuned and also AUTOs will 'roam' that is constantly seek to adjust the mean average pressure up & down depending on feedback from the patients breathing.

BiPAP are usually prescribed to patients with other lung complications or who are more fragile than normal.

AUTOs are probably more sophisticated overall & are evolving into even more complex devices than CPAP & BiPAP combined.

But, I think BiPAP will always be around for special needs patients.

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So BiPAP usually works at two preset pressures & tracks the patients breathing much more closely than CFLEX.

CFLEX is a generalized mechanism for reducing pressure for patients as they breath out and is at its best helping people get acclimatized to xPAP therapy.

CHEERS

DSM