Just Bought an Apex Medical XT Auto CPAP System Heated Humidifier

[TimtheEnchanter]

Oh, guess when they scheduled me for the earliest available sleep study? March 1st 2018!! So have no choice I have to return my DreamStation this year.
I will use the Apex as a travel machine, just dying to find out what they will "assign" for me. 
Does the feature Pressure Variation Algorithm (PVA) means that this machine is Bi level? Because it is not marketed that way...
http://www.apexmedicalusa.com/EN/faq

[big_dave]

It looks similar to Resmed's EPR feature and Philips Respironics A-Flex/C-Flex features. The pressure drop is limited to a smaller amount than a bilevel can provide:

Designed to make therapy more comfortable, Expiratory Pressure Relief (EPR) maintains optimal
treatment for the patient during inhalation and reduces the delivered mask pressure during
exhalation.

The device consists of a special comfort feature called A-Flex if Auto-CPAP therapy is enabled (or C-Flex+ if CPAP therapy is enabled). When A-Flex (C-Flex+) is enabled, it enhances patient comfort in three ways: 1) by smoothing the transition between the end of inhalation and the beginning of exhalation, 2) by providing significant pressure relief during the beginning of exhalation, and 3) by reaching an end exhalation pressure of no more than 2 cm H2O below the high point of inspiration.

[TimtheEnchanter]

It looks similar to Resmed's EPR feature and Philips Respironics A-Flex/C-Flex features. The pressure drop is limited to a smaller amount than a bilevel can provide:

Designed to make therapy more comfortable, Expiratory Pressure Relief (EPR) maintains optimal
treatment for the patient during inhalation and reduces the delivered mask pressure during
exhalation.

The device consists of a special comfort feature called A-Flex if Auto-CPAP therapy is enabled (or C-Flex+ if CPAP therapy is enabled). When A-Flex (C-Flex+) is enabled, it enhances patient comfort in three ways: 1) by smoothing the transition between the end of inhalation and the beginning of exhalation, 2) by providing significant pressure relief during the beginning of exhalation, and 3) by reaching an end exhalation pressure of no more than 2 cm H2O below the high point of inspiration.

Thanks big dave,

It seems that my expensive Dreamstation Auto CPAP does not have this? This begs the question; should a CPAP user stick to masks made by the machine manufacturer, as there were designed to work seamlessly? I love my p10 but using it with DreamStation is not the best fit. Now I also ordered a Dreamware mask (I hope is not for nothing) as I am returning the leased Dreamstation.

[big_dave]

The Dreamstation Auto is the latest Philips Respironics machine, still having A-Flex/C-Flex like the older machines, although I quoted the info from the older System One.

I haven't had any issues with mixing mask and machine brands. I'm using a Fisher and Paykel mask (the Pilairo Q) with the System One.

[trish6hundred]

Hi TimtheEnchanter,
Good luck with your new machine.

[Mosquitobait]

I can't tell you about the Phillips machine (I have a Resmed and bro uses a Bipap), but don't ever limit yourself to using only masks made by the manufacturer of your machine. While it's true that the majority use masks by either Phillips or Resmed, there are many other masks to choose from and they work with all the machines. The only feature that may not work is the auto-shutdown. That's maybe an issue if your on/off button failed, but should not otherwise be an issue.