Why does the dreamstation do pressure spikes all the time?

[Kryogen]

Why does the dreamstation do pressure spikes all the time?

when looking at my graph (machine is 7-12)

the machine, with no events and nothing to report, just goes 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8 which results in a pressure curve with spikes like a saw.

Any clue why?

[DeepBreathing]

As I understand it the Dreamstation regularly bumps the pressure up to test if you respond better at the higher pressure.

[OpalRose]

The Phillips Respironics algorithm uses a “hunt and peck” search pattern (in auto mode only) by raising the pressure approximately 1.5cm to see if there is a need to improve the breathing waveform.  

This looks much like a saw tooth pattern.

If it doesn’t find a reason to keep the pressure up, it then lowers it back down slowly.  This isn’t normally something that you would notice or even be aware of unless you are looking at #SleepyHead graphs.

If you feel you notice it, or it disrupts your sleep, you can switch to Cpap mode, or still use Apap mode and keep the minimum and maximum pressure the same.

[Sleeprider]

The Philips Respironics Auto algorithm has had this characteristic since the very old legacy auto CPAPs. In a more closeup view, the pressure increase of 1.5-cm occurs over a period of 5 minutes. Sometimes the pressure changes seem rhythmical, but for me they seem unpredictable and may occur irregularly through the night. My solution is to get a Resmed.

[Cpapian]

When I had the borrowed Respironics, the pressure pulses woke me up.   I had to turn off the machne or hit ramp to get rid of them.  Now I have ResMed.  Their equivalent (FOT) is less intrusive.