Philips Respironics DreamStation Modes & Functions Descriptions

[spacewrench]

I have a copy of the Provider manual for my DreamStation (thanks, ApneaBoard!) but it doesn't describe what a lot of the settings do -- it just tells you that you can set this or that, and how to change the setting.

In particular, I'm wondering what the difference is between "C-Check", "CPAP" and "Auto" on my Therapy screen (p. 4 of the Provider manual).  Is there some other provider literature that would tell a doc what these do, or when to choose which?  Is there a complete list of the various settings (it looks like Philips makes a bunch of slightly different versions of the machine, with different things available in the menu)?

Has anyone looked into enabling other features?  Many devices I'm familiar with are software-locked: the hardware is all the same, and they turn off certain features in the cheaper models using software settings.  If you can find the "secret menu," sometimes you can turn those features on.

[Crimson Nape]

A quick search came up with this:

The patient's user's manual says this about C-Check:
"CPAP Check (C-Check) - If available on your device, this mode delivers CPAP therapy while automatically adjusting the pressure level to meet your needs. Pressure adjustments while in CPAP-Check mode are more gradual than those that occur in Auto-Trial mode and the amount of adjustment that can be made over time is limited."

Member, big_dave, posted this back in July 7, 2015:

There are two versions of the manual. I requested it from Apnea Board while my machine was on order, and received a manual dated 12/01/2011. It does not list the C-Check and A-Trial modes. I received a printed copy dated 5/25/2012 in the box with the machine; it lists the two added modes.

The 5/25/2012 manual also lists an Opti-Start feature which adjusts the starting pressure in Auto mode based on past data. I have Opti-Start enabled, but it hasn't made any adjustments in 2 1/2 months.

[OpalRose]

In particular, I'm wondering what the difference is between "C-Check", "CPAP" and "Auto"on my Therapy screen (p. 4 of the Provider manual).  Is there some other provider literature that would tell a doc what these do, or when to choose which?  Is there a complete list of the various settings (it looks like Philips makes a bunch of slightly different versions of the machine, with different things available in the menu)?

Hello spacewrench,
In the Provider Guide (Clinicians Manual), there are descriptions beside each mode and settings available.  

And yes, you are correct that their are a couple different versions of the machine, some having more options than others.

https://www.apneaboard.com/dreamstation-...structions

The link to the complete manual is at the top of page.

[MitchS]

The newer provider manual doesn't go into as much detail as the older ones did. This is description of the modes as shown in an older manual I have:


Icon
Text
Description
CPAP, C-Check, Auto, Bi-Level, AutoB Mode
 
This screen displays the therapy mode setting. Depending on the therapy device model, you can select CPAP mode, CPAP-Check (C-Check) mode, Auto-CPAP (Auto) mode, Bi-Level mode, or Auto Bi-Level (AutoB) mode.

Note: CPAP-Check mode (C-Check) delivers CPAP therapy while automatically adjusting the pressure level to meet patient needs over the long term. Every 30 hours of therapy use, the therapy device evaluates patient obstructive respiratory disturbance index (ORDI) and increments pressure ± 1 cm H2O if needed. The range of adjustment that can be made over time is limited to ± 3 cm H2O of the CPAP- Check pressure setting, in 1 cm H2O increments.


Opti-Start
This feature starts an Auto-CPAP therapy session at a starting pressure that is closer to the previous session’s 90% pressure, in order to reduce the likelihood of any residual events at the beginning of a therapy session. You can enable or disable this feature.

Hope this helps.

[spacewrench]

That's very helpful, thanks MitchS!  It looks like there are several different manual versions...the 2016 Provider Guide I have (14 pages) just has descriptions screenshotted below: "Depending on the therapy device model, you can select CPAP mode, CPAP-Check (C-Check) mode, Auto-CPAP (Auto) mode."  Some of the other settings have a little info, but "you can select" doesn't really give me much to go on!
       

[MitchS]

The one I have is from 8/2015. It is 14 pages with mostly text and smaller graphics than the one that is currently available.