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I have the older Respironics Auto BiPAP machine and need to reprogram it. Before someone asks why I need to program it myself, I got the machine while I had health insurance. I was camping and used the unit with a DC batter. The battery went dead and that wiped out the programming instructions. The sleep lab wants to charge me $35 to reprogram it and I'm broke.

I know how to get into the programming mode by holding the two buttons down and then inserting the power cord. However, after that I'm lost. When I enter the menu it seems to have three modes; bFLE, bPAP, and AbFLE, and AbPAP. I remember that the unit was set for Auto BiPAP with IPAP=16 and EPAP=12. I don't remember the rest of the settings. Can anybody just walk me through the options so that I don't have to pay the $35.

Were you using BiFlex or not? That's the difference between AbFLE and AbPAP

Kind of hard to help you with settings if you don't remember them

the other setting that is needed is the max ps... any ideas of what that was set at?

Do you maybe have an old report from your data... something that it appears that the DME would have printed off for you? A lot of the info would be on the back page.

Sorry; I don't have any other information. Can you walk me through the programming steps and I'll use average values? After I know how to program it, then I can experiment on setting the right values.

I don't know much about the programing the Auto BiPap machines, I have never had one but I do have the Provider setup manual for them on PDF format. There are 2. One with BiFlex and one without. If you will PM me an e-mail address I will send whichever one you need.

Jerry

Guest wrote:I have the older Respironics Auto BiPAP machine and need to reprogram it. Before someone asks why I need to program it myself, I got the machine while I had health insurance. I was camping and used the unit with a DC batter. The battery went dead and that wiped out the programming instructions. The sleep lab wants to charge me $35 to reprogram it and I'm broke.

I know how to get into the programming mode by holding the two buttons down and then inserting the power cord. However, after that I'm lost. When I enter the menu it seems to have three modes; bFLE, bPAP, and AbFLE, and AbPAP. I remember that the unit was set for Auto BiPAP with IPAP=16 and EPAP=12. I don't remember the rest of the settings. Can anybody just walk me through the options so that I don't have to pay the $35.

That sounds highly improbable. I've never heard of a machine losing all of its program settings.
However, if the main board battery went dead (which caused the programming loss), you may/would need to have that replaced, too.
Also, those older "pre-M" (Legacy) machines also need 24v. power sources. (if you were actually camping)

If you knew how to get into the programming, you should have been in there before now and recording all of the settings.
Also, if you didn't have those settings written down (or committed to memory), how are you going to know how it needs to be set up. Those machines have many, many options.

The last problem is that you are "guest" posting and nobody can contact you to send you a manual. You might want to sign up as a member of the forum so you can send people Private Messages (PMs) and others can contact you.


Den

I have a Bipap S/t from Respironics. I am out of town and am wondering if I can make 2 adjustments now rather than when I get home taking it in. 1. they turned off the alarm without asking me and I like having it. It would usually go off if my mask came off in the night. "So how do I turn it back on?
2. the settings are 4 and 12. My problem is that it allows me to inhale a nice deep breath and then the next inhale is very short. I am sleeping OK but having trouble getting to sleep with this. Can I make them equal?
3. I had one unit for a year and it died so they gave me a new unit. that is when I started having problems. I travel a lot so it is hard for me to take it in. I would like more information about how to program if I feel I need an adjustment.

I dropped my machine and now it just blasts air. I am unemployed and need to just tone it down a bit. can someone help me? It reads 11 but it's so much more pressure than I can handle. please help

Northlee, I assume you were given and S/T machine to have the machine supply inhale pressure at some timed interval. That means your needs are rather more complex than simple OSA. Looking for advice on an internet forum -- and without supplying all pertinent info is not something I would do under those conditions.

If you don't have your Rx with you perhaps you can have your doc fax it or mail it, and then you can have a local DME check to see if your setup is OK.

Stevo: Sounds like the machine broke. I would be afraid of using it. I understand awakeinamerica supply machines to those who can't affort to buy them.

O.

Guest who wrote the first post, as Den (Wulfman) mentioned, if you will register for this forum (registration is free) people can send you a PM. You might get more help about finding instructions via Private Messages.

In the meantime, regarding the menu of the older (not M series) Bipap Auto you have, perhaps seeing the settings I use for mine might shed some light on the non-M menu items:

My bipap auto settings in July 2007:

AbFLE setup (operating mode - autotitrating bilevel with bi-flex turned on)
The other choices are:
AbPAP - autotitrating bilevel without Bi-Flex.
bFLE - bilevel with Bi-Flex turned on.
bPAP - bilevel without Bi-Flex.

10.0 Min EPAP (exhalation pressure)

20.0 Max IPAP (inhalation pressure)

8.0 PS (Pressure Support)
Note: I always set the PS as high as it will go (8 is as high as it can go.) The PS can't be set higher than the difference between IPAP and EPAP. For example if you set EPAP at 9 and IPAP at 14, the most the PS setting would let you set it at would be 5. (14 minus 9 = 5)

3 Flex (Bi-Flex)

0:00 Ramp (amount of time for the ramp to work - I keep ramp off - 0:00.)

0:00 Start (Split Night mode)
Note: If you see the word "Start" on the LCD, be sure you have that timer set for 0:00. Do not set "Start" for 2:00, 3:00, or 4:00. Keep it at 0:00. The "Start" screen will show up only if you have the machine set for AbFLE (auto bipap with bi-flex.)

0 Patient (Patient "disconnect" alarm)
Note: If you want the disconnection alarm to beep, as when there is a large continuous leak (like when the mask comes off) set "Patient" for 1 (On). I have mine set for 0 (Off) but if keeping a mask on or having large leaks is a problem, you might want it On.

1 Light
Note: I keep the LED backlight on (1) to illuminate the buttons while the machine is being operating...airflow going. Regardless of whether you set the "Light" On or Off, the lights will always be on when you are not using the machine but have it plugged into electricity. I keep mine set for 1 (On) but it really doesn't matter.

The last number in the setup menu says "Nights". I leave that number as is.

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Here are a couple of links to discussions containing my understanding (I'm not a doctor) of the PS (maximum pressure support) setting, and bi-flex:

Explanation of "Bi-Flex":
Mar 08, 2007 subject: BiPAP Bi-Flex Feature
viewtopic.php?p=153809
(That discussion was about a pre-M series BiPAP machine.)

Bi-Flex can be turned on when these BiPAP Auto machines are in the listed operating modes (through the therapy setup menu on the machine) --

BiPAP Auto with Bi-Flex M series
bilevel
autotitrating bilevel

BiPAP Auto with Bi-Flex, older non-M series
BFLE
AbFle
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Here are links to my understanding of the Maximum Pressure Support setting -- like two dogs on a leash.

That setting is called "Max Press Sup" in the M series BiPAP Auto.
It's called "PS" in the older non-M series BiPAP Auto.
Same thing.

viewtopic.php?t=22099
Jul 14, 2007 subject: What is 'Max Press Sup'

viewtopic.php?t=15666
Dec 08, 2006 subject: Question for BiPap users - UPDATED 12/14/2006

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stevo, I'm not sure if you were the guest who started this topic, but anyway... hope your machine isn't broken. Good luck!