The AirCurve VPAP Auto Bilevel from ResMed is the latest addition to the Bipap world. In this blog we will go over how to access and change the clinical settings in the provider menu. If you are not a clinician or under the supervision of a clinician, then you should probably stay away from these settings.

How to Access the Provider Menu in the AirCurve 11:

1. Make sure that your AirCurve 11 is plugged in and ready.
2. Press and hold the “My Options” and the “My Sleep View” tiles until the screen changes.
3. Once you see “Clinical Home” in the upper screen you can release the tiles.
4. Next press “settings” and you are in the Clinical/Provider Menu.

Adjusting settings in the AirCurve 11 Clinical Menu?

These settings are meant to be adjusted by a knowledgeable clinician and should only be done in that manner. Below we will take a look at the settings available and how to adjust them.

• Mode– Here you can adjust between VAuto, S, and CPAP. Descriptions below:
  • Vauto– In the Vauto Setting the AirCurve 11 will adjust itself to the best pressure in a given pressure range. Range adjustment will be between Max IPAP and Min EPAP. with a given PS (Pressure Support).
  • S Mode– This function is a fixed IPAP and EPAP Pressure.
  • CPAP– In this mode you can put the AirCurve 11 in a fixed pressure CPAP mode which makes the unit no longer a Bilevel.
• Pressure Settings:
  • Vauto Settings:
    • Max IPAP– This is the maximum Inhalation pressure that the AirCurve will go to in the auto adjusting algorithm.
    • Min EPAP– This is the lowest that the Exhalation pressure will start at in the auto adjusting algorithm.
    • PS- This is the Pressure Support setting. It is the difference between IPAP and EPAP. So as the IPAP and EPAP adjust the Pressure support is the difference between them. If the PS is set at a 4 then the IPAP will always be 4 cm higher than the EPAP as the EPAP adjusts up.
  • S Settings:
    • IPAP– This is the pressure setting that the AirCurve will go to on inhalation.
    • EPAP– This is the setting that the AirCurve will go to when the user is exhalation.
  • CPAP Settings: This is a fixed pressure CPAP setting and can be adjust from 4-20 cm. It is no longer operating as a bilevel in this mode.
• TI Range– This is the Range of inspiratory time limits to accommodate individual respiratory conditions. Check out the description and chart below for more explanation.
  • TI Max– limits the inspiration time for patients who require a longer expiration time.
  • TI Min– prevents the premature cycling to EPAP for patients whose inspiratory pressure is extremely weak.

Ti Max and Min guidelines chart

• Trigger– This is the sensitivity setting that tells the device to switch from EPAP to IPAP on inhalation. It is adjustable from Very Low to Very High and comes preset in Medium. Patient with unique conditions may benefit from adjustments here.
• Cycle– This is the sensitivity setting that tells the device to switch back from IPAP to EPAP on exhalation. It is adjustable from Very Low to Very High and comes preset in Medium. Patient with unique conditions may benefit from adjustments here.

Comfort Settings in the AirCurve 11:

The remainder of the settings in the Provider menu are related to patient comfort and many of these are adjustable by the patient in their patient level menu. Below I will detail those settings.

Comfort Settings:

• Ramp Time– This is the time it will take to go from the Minimum EPAP to therapy EPAP.
• Start EPAP– This is the EPAP setting that the ramp will begin at
• Humidity Level– Adjustable from off to 8. Off being the least humidity and 8 being the most. Increase if you are dry, decrease if you get condensation.
• Mask Setting– Nasal, Pillow or full. It is a good idea to have this set correctly.
• Tube– Slim (15mm), Standard (22mm) and 3m. Most everyone gets a Slim Tube to start with
• B/V Filter– If you are using an in line bacteria filter, then you should turn this setting to on. Most people do not use this.
• Patient View– By changing this to Advanced from Simple you will give the patient access to more data on their device. I like leaving it in advanced.
• SmartStart– Turning this on allows the unit to turn itself on when it feels you breathing on the mask.
• SmartStop– Turning this setting on allows the unit to turn itself off when you take the mask off. If your machine is turning itself off while you are using it then turn this setting off.
• Care Check-in- Allows the system to send detailed helpful information to the user.
• Language– Put this in the language of the user.
• Time Zone– Set to the Appropriate time zone for the user.
• Temps Units– C or F.
• Restore Defaults– Takes the Bilevel back to the factory settings.
• Erase Data– Removes all compliance and therapy data for use on a new user. Erase data between customers.
• About– Details about this particular Aircurve 11 Bilevel.