Bacteria Filter--Will air Flow be Reduced ?

I am considering purchasing some Bacteria Filters for my Cpap and I was wondering if the Air Flow to the cpap might be reduced when using the Bacteria Filters. The Manufacturer that I am considering purchasing them from States that the Air Flow will not be Affected but They will say anything to make a Sell ! I thought thay might be worth a try with winter coming on and myself suffering from Allergies.

I've tried some... and no it doesn't... at least not the one's from cpap dot com

The one I tried did. Don't forget these filters need to be connected BEFORE any humidifier or they will clog up.

Gumby, How do you hook it up before the Humidifier ? I use the Resprinocs M Series and the only way i see to hook it up is between the Machine and the Hose which would be after the HH.

DannyPh wrote:Gumby, How do you hook it up before the Humidifier ? I use the Resprinocs M Series and the only way i see to hook it up is between the Machine and the Hose which would be after the HH.

Exactly why I mentioned it. Guess you would have to remove your humidifier or empty the water chamber.

so, not all machines have the filter at the blower intake port--or are we talking in-line hose filter?

chunkyfrog wrote:so, not all machines have the filter at the blower intake port--or are we talking in-line hose filter?

The bacteria filter goes into the hose in-line. Most machines I know have the filters on the air input. If you remove that input filter you will end up with junk in your humidifier water.

Danny what allergies are you having troubles with?

Ummm... If you don't trust the manufacturer to tell you the truth about airflow....why do you trust that their filters will stop bacteria? Or that you even need such a thing...

GumbyCT wrote:The one I tried did. Don't forget these filters need to be connected BEFORE any humidifier or they will clog up.

I know you've said that before. I'm very curious about that because:



1. I've been using the Respironics brand bacterial filters from CPAP.com

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... -pack.html

for about 5 months. I have never had them clog up.

2. According to the cpap.com site:

What is an In-line Outlet Bacteria Filter for CPAP/BiPAP?

Bacteria filters are fine enough to remove some bacteria and are clinically indicated when a CPAP machine is used by more than one person. However, many CPAP users find them helpful in reducing the occurrence of sinus infections and other nasal issues. Bacteria filters can be used with an CPAP/APAP/ or BiPAP machine.

Bacteria filters are housed in a plastic frame and are placed at the CPAP air outlet, rather than the air inlet. They may be used with humidifiers, but should be removed and allowed to air dry during the day.

This filter is placed at the air outtake for your machine if you are not using a humidifiers. If you are using a humidifier, it is placed at the air outake for your humidifier. The bacteria filter is placed in the air outtake and the CPAP hose is placed on the other end.

The entire housing is disposable and should be discarded as soon as matter becomes visible. A clogged Bacteria filter may affect the amount of air delivered by the CPAP.

An example of a bacteria filter is shown below. Follow by an image showing how it installed.

3. Mine gradually turn gray on the side facing the machine and remain white on the side facing the mask; unless there's something I don't know, that does not seem to indicate wetness.

4. Cpap.com specifies that the filters may interfere with the machine's algorithm if the pressure is 7 or less. My EPEP is 10 and I can't feel any difference, nor do I see a difference in the bipap or oximetry data.

5.The info also says it's possible for moisture to condense in the filter and it will be ok again after it dries. I've never had this happen, though, even though I don't disconnect it during the day, so it can air-dry.

6. It does wonders for allergies, in my case. I wouldn't like to give it up.

Is it possible these are designed specifically for xpap and thus different from other filters you may be familiar with?


edited to correct grammar.

M.D.Hosehead wrote:

GumbyCT wrote:The one I tried did. Don't forget these filters need to be connected BEFORE any humidifier or they will clog up.

I know you've said that before. I'm very curious about that because:



1. I've been using the Respironics brand bacterial filters from CPAP.com

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... -pack.html

for about 5 months. I have never had them clog up.

2. According to the cpap.com site:

What is an In-line Outlet Bacteria Filter for CPAP/BiPAP?

Bacteria filters are fine enough to remove some bacteria and are clinically indicated when a CPAP machine is used by more than one person. However, many CPAP users find them helpful in reducing the occurrence of sinus infections and other nasal issues. Bacteria filters can be used with an CPAP/APAP/ or BiPAP machine.

Bacteria filters are housed in a plastic frame and are placed at the CPAP air outlet, rather than the air inlet. They may be used with humidifiers, but should be removed and allowed to air dry during the day.

This filter is placed at the air outtake for your machine if you are not using a humidifiers. If you are using a humidifier, it is placed at the air outake for your humidifier. The bacteria filter is placed in the air outtake and the CPAP hose is placed on the other end.

The entire housing is disposable and should be discarded as soon as matter becomes visible. A clogged Bacteria filter may affect the amount of air delivered by the CPAP.

An example of a bacteria filter is shown below. Follow by an image showing how it installed.

3. Mine gradually turn gray on the side facing the machine and remain white on the side facing the mask; unless there's something I don't know, that does not seem to indicate wetness.

4. Cpap.com specifies that the filters may interfere with the machine's algorithm if the pressure is 7 or less. My EPEP is 10 and I can't feel any difference, nor do I see a difference in the bipap or oximetry data.

5.The info also says it's possible for moisture to condense in the filter and it will be ok again after it dries. I've never had this happen, though, even though I don't disconnect it during the day, so it can air-dry.

6. It does wonders for allergies, in my case. I wouldn't like to give it up.

Is it possible these are designed specifically for xpap and thus different from other filters you may be familiar with?


edited to correct grammar.

My experience is identical using the same filters.

FWIW

That link and your comments seem to confirm what I said. So I think the question is - is it possible that you did not notice the impact of having a filter in-line?

I am by no means the final authority on in-line filters. Certainly others should try it and form their own opinion. Certainly we are not all using the same equipment with the same settings and there will be differences. I have only shared my experience. YMMV

I forgot to mention the impact if you are using an auto. I felt mine was NOT sensing some events. Also the M series has problems when the humidifier is removed bc of that hose adapter. Must be the same size as the filter.

This is from your link -

• Auto Adjusting CPAP Machines
  
  This filter may have an impact on the ability of any Auto Adjusting CPAP to accurately respond to airflow restrictions during use. If the average treatment pressure is below a pressure of 7cm H2O this should not be used.
  
  CPAP and BiPAP machines with Auto On/Off Feature
  
  The Auto On/Off Feature has a difficult time sensing air flow, which helps determine whether the machine is in use or simply blowing air. Our tests show the Auto On/Off feature does not work with the following machines: (see link on Important Tips tab)
  https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... -pack.html
  
  Maintenance and Care
  
  If the filter becomes very dirty or wet, machine performance can be affected. It is easy to see the condition of the filter. Replace when it becomes discolored. Heated humidifiers can cause water to collect in the filter chamber, thus clogging the filter and adversely affecting therapy. If wet, remove the filter from use and set out to dry. Dry time may vary.

GumbyCT wrote:That link and your comments seem to confirm what I said. So I think the question is - is it possible that you did not notice the impact of having a filter in-line?

Well, this:

If you are using a humidifier, it is placed at the air outake for your humidifier. The bacteria filter is placed in the air outtake and the CPAP hose is placed on the other end.

contradicts what you said earlier:

Don't forget these filters need to be connected BEFORE any humidifier or they will clog up.

Not trying to be argumentative here; I'm trying to sort out apparent contradictions.

M.D.Hosehead wrote:

GumbyCT wrote:That link and your comments seem to confirm what I said. So I think the question is - is it possible that you did not notice the impact of having a filter in-line?

Well, this:

If you are using a humidifier, it is placed at the air outake for your humidifier. The bacteria filter is placed in the air outtake and the CPAP hose is placed on the other end.

contradicts what you said earlier:

Don't forget these filters need to be connected BEFORE any humidifier or they will clog up.

Not trying to be argumentative here; I'm trying to sort out apparent contradictions.

Not a contradiction at all. Just a different choice of words. I think I was actually much clearer than their instructions which obviously confused you.

Think about where the output of the cpap is? That instruction was likely written BEFORE the humidifier was built into the cpap machine. They were once separate devices and still are. The language used was/is not very good.

So the output of the cpap is before the humidifier, right? Their next line confused it for you even more. Their choice of words is very poor but regardless when it was written IF you connect the cpap hose on one end of the humidifier where is the only place you "CAN" connect "this" filter?

I still like my choice of words better - at least you knew what I meant, right?

But even more confusing was where you thought that it is OK to use the filter below 7cm. I understood that to mean NOT to use the filter below 7cm.

GumbyCT wrote:If the average treatment pressure is below a pressure of 7cm H2O this should not be used.

"If the average treatment pressure is below a pressure of 7cm H2O this (filter) should not be used. "

M.D.Hosehead wrote:is it possible that you did not notice the impact of having a filter in-line?

So I think the answer is YES

I bought five of them from this site's sponsor, in the hope of helping with my allergies. I put one on the output of my M series humidifier, which is set on two, and my hose. It seemed to help but after three days it reduced the flow as to be unusable. I tried letting it dry out for a few days and then use it again, I woke up half the night through not being able to breath and had to take it out. Another online seller says that moisture will clog then and reduce the flow, they recommend that they only be used between the Xpap and the humidifier.
Bob

I do not use a bacteria filter, so I cannot comment from personal experience. So, I will comment based on physics.

Any kind of a restriction in a hose carrying air is going to cause some 'pressure drop', due to the effort expended squeezing through the restriction. This lost pressure energy is converted into an infinitesimal amount of heat. The smaller the restriction, the more the pressure drop across it (and the more heat produced).

The openings in a bacterial filter have to be really small. Thus, they will cause some pressure drop. Thus, the recommendation not to use them at pressures of 7 cm or less. (You can always raise the pressure to compensate.) In the case of an APAP or a Bilevel machine, the filter restricts the flow in the other direction as well (which the machine uses to sense events, or control IPAP/EPAP pressure). This is why it can affect therapy with these machines.

My suspicion is that very little of what these filters stop is actually bacteria. I bet the gray buildup you are seeing on the machine side of the filter is mostly very fine room dust, pollen, etc. To minimize this problem, it is important to make sure that your machine has an ultrafine filter on the input to catch most of this fine dust/pollen. This will prolong the life of your bacteria filter.

If you are having problems with the filter getting wet, this might be worth a try. Get a length of hose that is no less than six inches long, but not more than maybe 18 inches (which I think is a standard length for use with outboard humidifiers). Put the filter there, rather than at the output of the humidifier. Make sure this short hose segment is well insulated. This distancing will allow small water droplets in the air stream to fully vaporize before encountering the filter. Insulating the hose keeps the air warm, and thus discourages water condensing out of the warm, water-saturated air stream.