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Jargon Buster - Common CPAP terms explained

Jargon Buster will try to explain some of the technical terms related to Sleep and Sleep Apnoea

Aflex :-

Aflex is a technology patented by Respironics that is used in M-series Respironics Machines. Aflex provides a variable pressure reduction as you breath out and also adjusts the pressure as you breath in to provide a more comfortable sleep. 

Cflex :-

Cflex is a technology patented by Respironics found in many of their machines. Cflex provides pressure reduction as you breath out to provide a more comfortable sleep

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA):-

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a common sleep apnoea caused by obstruction of the airway. It is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. These episodes, called apnoeas (literally, "without breath"), each last long enough that one or more breaths are missed, and occur repeatedly throughout sleep. In obstructive sleep apnoea, breathing is interrupted by a physical block to airflow, despite the effort to breathe.

Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA) :-

Central Sleep Apnoea occurs when  the brain's respiratory control centers are imbalanced during sleep. The signal from the brain to tell the lungs to inflate is broken and therefore causing the individual to miss one or more cycles of breathing.There is no effort made to breathe during the pause in breathing: there are no chest movements and no struggling.

Humidifier :-

A Humidifier is a device that enables a CPAP machine carry more water vapour to the nose and mouth to prevent dryness. This is achievable through either a stand alone or integrated humidifier.

CPAP :-

CPAP stands for Continous Positive Airway Pressure . CPAP was developed in 1981 by Dr Colin Sullivan and remains the most effective treatment of OSA today.

Ramp :-

Ramp may be used to temporarily lower the pressure if the user does not immediately sleep. The pressure gradually rises to the prescribed level over a period of time that can be adjusted by the patient and/or the healthcare provider

EPR :-

EPR stands for Expiratory Pressure Relief.  Resmed uses this feature in its S8 range to give a short drop in pressure during exhalation to reduce the effort required. It operates in a similar manner to Respironics Cflex.

AHI :-

AHI stands for Apnoea-Hypopnea Index. The AHI is an index of severity that combines apnoeas and hypopneas. Combining them both gives an overall severity of sleep apnoea including sleep disruptions and desaturations (a low level of oxygen in the blood). The apnoea-hypopnoea index, like the apnoea index and hypopnea index, is calculated by dividing the number of apnoeas and hypopneas by the number of hours of sleep.

Apnoea :-

Apnoea is a term used to descibe the suspension of breathing. In OSA this is caused by a total blockage of the airways.

Hypopnea :-

Hypopnea is a term used to describe a partially obstructed airway. An hypopnea event is not considered to be clinically significant unless there is a 30% (or greater) reduction in flow and an associated 3% (or greater) desaturation in the person's O₂ levels for 10 seconds or longer, or if it results in arousal or fragmentation of sleep

Pulse Oximetry

Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method allowing the monitoring of the oxygenation of a patient's blood. It is used in conjunction with many other indictators to asses the severity of a patient's sleep apnoea. 

Fixed Pressure CPAP :-

Fixed Pressure  CPAP systems are devices that  operate at a constant prescribed pressure. Fixed Pressure  CPAP systems are generally less expensive than the alternative Automatic CPAP systems.

Automatic CPAP :-

Automatic CPAP (APAP) refers to CPAP systems that change pressure in response to reduced airflow  and snore. APAP systems are generally more expensive than traditional Fixed Pressure systems however they usually are better tolerated as the pressure required to maintain an open airway is often much less.

Rain Out :-

Rain Out refers to the condensation that sometimes occurs in the CPAP tubing or mask. Rain Out can be reduced by using a Tubing Cover or Heated CPAP tube. Rain Out is more likely to occur at high humidifier temperature settings.

Full Face Mask :-

A Full Face Mask (FFM) is a CPAP mask covers both the nose and the mouth. It is mostly used by people who predominantly breath through their mouth. FFMs are generally larger and more expensive than other CPAP masks.   

Nasal Pillow Mask :-

A Nasal Pillow Mask is a CPAP mask that has small silicone pillows that insert into the nostrils. They are the smallest type of mask available and typically have the least amount of contact with the face. Nasal Pillows masks do not cover the mouth.

BIPAP :-

BIPAP stands for Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure. A BiPap machine is one that blows air at a higher pressure for inhaling and a lower pressure for exhaling. This makes BiPAP much easier for users to adapt to and also allows neuromuscular disease sufferers to use the device. Because of these dual settings, BiPAP allows people to get more air in and out of the lungs without the natural muscular effort needed to do so. BiPAP has been found to be especially useful for patients with congestive heart failure and lung disorders, especially those that result in above normal levels of carbon dioxide.

Epworth Sleepiness Scale :-

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a brief, self-administered questionnaire that was developed in 1990 at the Sleep Disorders Unit, Epworth Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. It measures a subject’s usual level of daytime sleepiness in daily life.

Take the test for yourself  --> here <--

Automatic Altitude Adjustment :-

Automatic Altitude Adjustment is the cpap machine's ability to adjust for changes in altitude automatically. This feature allows the patient to travel to different altitudes without having the pressure setting adjusted. Because atmospheric pressure changes with altitude, most machines need adjustment in order to provide the correct pressure at a different altitudes.