[Equipment] How is EPR on CPAP different to BiPAP

[Lampshade]

I have been using a ResMed AirSense AutoSet 10 CPAP device with Expiratory Pressure Relief (EPR) set to be on full time at a level of 3 cm. This feature reduces the delivered mask pressure during exhalation. For example, if the current pressure is at 10 cm, that would be for inhale while the pressure would be 7 cm for exhale.

My 2-week trial of a ResMed AirCurve 10 VAUTO BiPAP device started last night and I have been reading up on that technology. That machine could be configured with an Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (EPAP) setting of 7 cm and a Pressure Support (PS) setting of 3 cm.  It seems that would be equivalent to the CPAP setting described above. 

Would those two setups deliver an equivalent experience for the user at that moment?

I see that this BiPAP machine has lots of other controls and features so over the course of a night, the BiPAP may provide a better treatment and I have 2 weeks to see if it works for me. Here is the thread on that trial if you are interested. http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...iPAP-trial

[Sleeprider]

With same or similar settings you won't see any difference in the mask pressure chart between the Autoset and Vauto. As you note, the range of PS, and settings to affect trigger and cycle sensitivity and inspiratory pressure minimum and maximum time are adjustable only on the Vauto. We have use the Resmed Autoset machines as bilevel devices for years to help treat flow limits in much the same way as we use the more expensive and harder to get Vauto. In my opinion, there is no other CPAP in the same class as the Autoset, and the Vauto just extends those capabilities further.