CPAP:

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP therapy is the most common and non-evasive treatment option for sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD) such as sleep apnea.

A CPAP unit is the combination of a small device that converts room air into pressurized air and a small mask that fits over your nose and/or mouth. The CPAP unit is connected to the mask by a flexible plastic tube.

The CPAP unit delivers a steady and gentle flow of pressurized heated and humidified air to you through your airway. The constant flow of pressurized air maintains an open airway during sleep preventing airway narrowing or obstruction.

The optimal pressure for each patient is determined by a qualified sleep technologist during an overnight sleep study. The amount of air pressure needed to maintain an open airway is different for each person.

After the CPAP titration, a sleep physician will recommend the best treatment pressure for you. The CPAP unit is a medical device, which means you must have a physician’s prescription in order to obtain a CPAP device and other supplies.

Bi-Level:

Also known as Bi-PAP* therapy is similar to CPAP therapy.

The Bi-level unit looks the same as a CPAP unit however rather than delivering a steady flow of air to you, a Bi-level unit delivers two different pressure settings.

The first pressure is set higher, working like CPAP to prevent narrowing or obstructing of the upper airway while you breathe in. The second pressure is set lower making it easy for you to breathe out.

*Bi-PAP is a registered trademark of Phillips Respironics, Inc. Other manufacturers make VPAP and Bi-level machines that provide this same therapy.

Bi-PAP ST:

Bi-PAP ST is similar to Bi-level therapy providing a higher pressure while you breathe in and a lower pressure while you breathe out. The difference between these two therapy devices is the ST mode.

ST stands for Spontaneous Timed. This means that if you do not take a breath on your own, the device will initiate a spontaneous breath for you. This initiated breath is based on your normal breathing pattern within a set time.

Bi-PAP ST is useful in treating cases of sleep apnea such as Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) or Complex Sleep Apnea (CompSA)

Bi-PAP ST does not breathe for you, it is not a ventilator, instead it designed for patients who have been diagnosed with a complex case of sleep apnea that cannot be adequately treated with CPAP or Bi-PAP therapy.

Bi-PAP ST works the same as a normal Bi-PAP device but will switch to ST mode if you fail to take a breath within a timed interval. This device also analyses the flow pattern of each breath and makes internal adjustments

Auto-PAP:

Also known as auto-titrating CPAP or auto-adjusting CPAP
A-PAP stands for Automatic Positive Airway Pressure.  An Auto-PAP device is the most advanced of the PAP machines. It automatically adjusts on a breath by breath basis to establish an ideal pressure to eliminate apnea events.

Similar to a Bi-PAP device the Auto-PAP uses two pressure settings; a higher setting for breathing in and a lower setting for breathing out. The Auto-PAP starts from lower pressure settings and through the duration of the night it senses when you are having an apnea event and auto adjusts to eliminate apnea events by slowly increasing the pressure.

Once apnea events are eliminated it will remain at that pressure for a period of time and slowly begin to decrease back towards a lower pressure. This process will repeat throughout the night

Auto-PAP devices are more advanced, have more features and are much more expensive than standard CPAP devices. Auto-PAP machines are not always routinely covered by insurance companies. However with a specific physician’s prescription and proper documentation of your failure to respond to standard CPAP, coverage may be considered.