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An Automatic Positive Airway Pressure device (APAP, Auto-PAP, Auto-CPAP) adjusts the pressure delivered based on the current needs of the patient on at any given time using a breath-by-breath basisproprietary algorithm. The primary goal of auto-[[titration ]] is to provide the minimum pressure necessary to maintain an unobstructed airway over the course of a night, thereby increasing patient comfort.

An APAP uses a range of pressures predefined in the clinician settings, relying on real-time feedback from the patient such as airflow limitations, snoring, apnea, hypoapnea hypopnea or a combination of these variables. <ref>Asp, Kevin. What is APAP Therapy? A comprehensive breakdown. https://www.aastweb.org/blog/what-is-apap-therapy-a-comprehensive-breakdown; February, 2017.</ref> Once the APAP begins to detect one of these physiological events, the algorithm will begin working to respond and treat the patient. If the machine detects a flow limitation, or obstructive event, it will begin raising pressure to maintain the patency of the airway until it determines that an effective treatment pressure has been reached, or the machine has reached its limited or functional maximum pressure. <ref> Berry, Richard MD, Parish, James M MD, Hatse, Kristina M PhD, The Use of Auto-Titrating Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Treatment of Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Sleep, Vol 25, No. 2. 2002. </ref> If the machine detects a clear airway event, the machine will ''maintain the current pressure'' in order to prevent causing further clear airway events. If no events are detected over a set period of time, the APAP will begin reducing pressure to attempt to return to the minimum effective pressure. <ref> Ibid </ref>