New Respironics REMstar BiPAP AutoSV Advanced User

Hello All!

I'm new to the form, but have been on CPAP before in grad school (AHI off the chart; Respironics REMstar Pro w/ C-Flex; CPAP pressure 18 cm H2O). I failed initial therapy due to the high pressure I was on bloating the hell out of me every night and I really didn't feel any better the next day on the therapy than off the therapy.

Now, almost 7 years later and 70 pounds lighter, a new sleep study reconfirmed severe OSA (AHI 50). Septoplasty was performed a few weeks ago to fix my deviated septum to help improve CPAP compliance. Now that everything has healed, I was put back on CPAP for another home autotitration/trial (PR System One REMstar Auto CPAP w/ A-flex). 90% CPAP pressure during the trial was 12 cm H2O, AHI ~ 10 over the 5 good nights of data, but periodic breathing was about 6%. Therefore, I was switched to my current trial machine, a Respironics REMstar BiPAP AutoSV Advanced, to prevent the PB. Since I refused to do a monitored titration in a sleep lab, the sleep therapist gave me the machine setup with the parameters as indicated on the titration protocol (EPAPmin=4, EPAPmax=15, PSmin=0, PSmax=15, Pmax=25, Rate=auto, Flex=3) for an auto/self-titration study at home over a week. First night I noticed is that with these settings, I was choking while lying on my back while trying to fall asleep. Second night, I boosted EPAPmin to 8 and PSmin to 2 (to give me an IPAPmin of 10 cm) and I slept much better and felt fairly good throughout the day. Last night, I increased EPAPmin to 9 and PSmin to 3 (to give me an IPAPmin of 12 cm, same as my 90% CPAP pressure from the previous trial) and I slept better and feel even better today. I am not going to boost my pressure any higher until my SmartCard reader comes in tomorrow (hopefully) and I can read the data I've been generating from the machine. I already have the Encore Viewer 2.0 software, but I didn't realize that you needed a special SmartCard reader to read the SmartCards in the REMstar machines. The Mako DT3500 SmartCard Reader will work with Encore Viewer 2.0, as long as you have the proper driver for the reader, correct? I think I have (or know a source of) the correct driver.

While I like the Respironics REMstar BiPAP AutoSV Advanced machine so far, the newer style PR System One machines are much smaller and portable (plus use the SD memory cards which almost everyone has a reader for) and have superior on-screen readouts without having to download everything to your computer to get AHI's, for example. Does anyone know if a PR System One Version of the REMstar BiPAP AutoSV Advanced is available or is what I have the only current ASV machine from PR? How does the PR System One REMstar BiPAP AVAPS Machine compare to the Respironics REMstar BiPAP AutoSV Advanced machine? Can the newer style PR AVAPS machine do everything the older style AutoSV Advanced machine does...and more? I see they are similarly priced on cpap.com and I would like to get the newest (smallest, most features, etc.) possible one when it comes time to get my own.

Thanks in advanced,
Antonio

The DT3500 card reader will work with EncoreViewer 2.0. Viewer has the driver software but it may need to be updated. I found that to be true when I used Encore Pro 2.xx with my M series machine and the DT3500 as it worked a few days then told me it couldn't find the card. Link below is for the driver software update if needed. It is the one I used. It will work. Regarding your specific machine questions I will let others respond to those. I don't know enough about the specifics to make an educated comment.

http://www.ais-magnetic.com/e/download_ ... p?id=23390

As far as I know this is the most advanced ASV Respironics manufacturers. I don't think there is a system 1 version. My respiratory tech says the Resmed equivalent may be more sensitive and respond more quickly to small breathing changes but also that the Resmed machines are very picky. I like my machine. Many nights my settings often don't budge from the minimum, other nights there is a higher AHI and the support pressure bumps up to fix things but I don't get woken up which is the important thing. I too, felt a little starved at first. My EPAP min is 6 and min PS is 3 and then both are pretty much free to vary as the machine sees fit. Most nights I run at >90% EPAP about 7 and PS about 4. I tend to get mostly centrals without the ASV and more centrals as pressure goes up. An ASV will only bump pressure as needed to keep your breathing steady, so its a good solution for PB and CA. It took me a few months to get used to but now I would not think of sleeping without it.

adipasqu wrote:Does anyone know if a PR System One Version of the REMstar BiPAP AutoSV Advanced is available or is what I have the only current ASV machine from PR?

The Respironics REMstar BiPAP AutoSV Advanced is the current ASV offering from PR. The PR System One ASV may, or may not, be in development.

adipasqu wrote:How does the PR System One REMstar BiPAP AVAPS Machine compare to the Respironics REMstar BiPAP AutoSV Advanced machine?

The PR System One REMstar BiPAP AVAPS Machine is a Volume Generator. It is not capable of addressing CA or PB issues.

adipasqu wrote:Can the newer style PR AVAPS machine do everything the older style AutoSV Advanced machine does...and more?

No

adipasqu wrote:I see they are similarly priced on cpap.com and I would like to get the newest (smallest, most features, etc.) possible one when it comes time to get my own.

You will need a ResMed S9 VPAP Adapt.

Banned wrote:

adipasqu wrote:Does anyone know if a PR System One Version of the REMstar BiPAP AutoSV Advanced is available or is what I have the only current ASV machine from PR?

The Respironics REMstar BiPAP AutoSV Advanced is the current ASV offering from PR. The PR System One ASV may, or may not, be in development.

You are like so Flintstone:

http://www.healthcare.philips.com/main/ ... efault.wpd

I love you, man. You found my new travel machine!

Banned wrote:I love you, man...

That's "baked goods".

NotMuffy wrote:

Banned wrote:I love you, man...

That's "baked goods".

You are so like so half-baked: But I love you, anyway.. I guess.