[Equipment] Air flow pauses or 'pops' for fraction of a second

[CPAPuser604]

Hi everyone,

I am having an issue with my equipment and i'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this issue. At times my CPAP's air flow will momentarily stop for a fraction of a second - as if there is a sudden blockage. This usually happens after i've been asleep for a few hours, and i'll wake up in a panic. This may or may not continue to happen afterwards. If it continues, i usually just toss the mask on the floor and go back to sleep without it.
I can reproduce this blockage by rapidly breathing out then in, or by coughing or clearing my throat. I have checked all the connections for blockages but can't find anything. I have replaced the filter, the mask, and all tubing. I tried turning off the EPAP feature but it didn't make a difference. I cannot reproduce the issue with the machine turned off, which leads me to believe it's something in the CPAP unit itself.
I am using a ResMed AutoSense 10 and a ResMed Airtouch F20 mask.

Any thoughts? I appreciate it.
I'm attaching a snippet of my OSCAR report from a night where this happened, just in case anyone needs it. I didn't see anything unusual in the data.

[Dog Slobber]

Sounds like it's the anti-asphyxiation valve opening and shutting. 


Take your phone point it at the AA valve and replicate the problem, see if you can see it opening or shutting.

This can happen when one uses low pressures, and if one inhales deeply or quickly. 

Increasing your pressure can help resolve this. And, judging by your graphs, FLs, and being maxed at your maximum all night, a little extra pressure is probably needed anyway.

[Sleeprider]

This usually happens when enough water enters the tube to block airflow. The pressure pops through the obstruction. Be sure your air-tube rises from the back of the machine rather than laying flat or descending. This allows any water that condenses or enters to tube to drain back to the humidity chamber.

[CPAPuser604]

Thank you - After trying this with with a high pressure, I think it may be due to the flaps in AA valve. I tested with a higher pressure and I didn't experience the symptoms (although i could clearly hear the flaps slamming shut whereas they used to be silent). Also, I have my machine on the floor so the tube does rise up to my bed. I don't think water is getting trapped. I'll double-check, though.

I did notice the flow limitations in my OSCAR report, so i'm working on increasing the pressure. I've increased my max flow from 6 to 12 over the last two weeks, and i'm still hitting the flow limit, so i'll keep working my way up.

Thanks for the advise.