Glossary

 

 

 

 

 

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B

 

Bilevel therapy

While CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy delivers air at one fixed pressure, bilevel therapy delivers two different levels of pressure:
• a higher level of pressure when you breathe in; and
• a lower level of pressure when you breathe out.
This makes it a little easier to breathe out against the air pressure. ResMed’s bilevel therapy is delivered in our VPAP range of devices.
See also: VPAP; CPAP

 

Compliance

This is a term used to describe how well you are following the recommended usage of your therapy. If you are compliant, it means you are using it as recommended to gain the benefits of treatment. If you are noncompliant, you are not using it as recommended to gain the benefits.

 

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E

Easy-Breathe technology

This is the name of ResMed’s smooth air delivery technology, which intelligently mimics your natural breathing pattern. It incorporates the Easy-Breathe motor, which reduces the sound of your device to a whisper, so your (and your partner’s) sleeping environment is quiet and restful.

 

EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief)

EPR is a feature on ResMed’s sleep therapy devices that gently lowers the pressure delivered to you when you breathe out. This makes it easier to breathe out against the air pressure.

 

 

Event

This is a term used to describe the occurrence of an apnoea or hypopnoea.

 

 

Expiration

Refers to breathing out, either naturally (automatically) or mechanically (with the help of a therapy device or ventilator). Also referred to as exhalation.

 

 

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)

EDS is a condition where you constantly feel tired during the day, and generally lack energy, even though you might feel you have had enough sleep.

 

 

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F

 

Flow

Generally, flow refers to the stream of air entering your lungs when you breathe (either naturally or with the help of a therapy device).

 

Flow limitation
This refers to any event that limits the flow of air into your body, due to a blockage (or obstruction) in your upper airway.

 

 

Full face masks
Full face masks are a type of mask used during positive airway pressure therapy. Full face masks cover both the nose and mouth.
See also: Nasal pillow masks; Nasal masks.

 

 

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H

 

Humidification/Humidifier

During positive airway pressure therapy, humidification warms the air you’re breathing as it comes out of the device. This helps you avoid getting a dry nose or throat, keeps your airway moist (so that it doesn’t dry out), and helps you keep your mouth closed while you sleep. Using a humidifier can make a positive difference to your therapy comfort and experience. ResMed’s humidification technology is called Climate Control.
See also: Climate Control

 

 

Hypopnoea

Hypopnoea is a partial blockage of the airway. During a hypopnoea, breathing is shallow at 50% less than baseline breathing, with partial upper airway obstruction lasting 10 seconds or longer.

 

 

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I

 

Inspiration

Refers to breathing in, either spontaneously (automatically) or mechanically (with the help of a therapy device or ventilator).

 

 

Inspiration pressure

Refers to the pressure delivered to you during inspiration.
See also: Inspiration; Pressure

 

 

Inspiration time (Ti)

Refers to the length of time (in seconds) you spend in inspiration (i.e. how long it takes for air to flow into the lungs).
See also: TiControl

 

 

Intubation

A medical procedure where a tube is inserted down your throat to provide you with oxygen.
See also: Invasive ventilation

 

 

Invasive ventilation; Invasive therapy

Refers to a method of ventilation that requires something to enter your body to help you breathe. This can be via intubation (where a tube is inserted down your throat), or a tracheotomy (where an incision is made into your throat). Non-invasive ventilation, on the other hand, does not require anything to enter your body to provide air. Instead air is delivered through a mask that you wear over your mouth and/or nose.
See also: Tracheotomy; Intubation; Non-invasive ventilation

 

 

Intelligent Volume-Assured Pressure Support (iVAPS)

iVAPS is a volume assurance therapy mode found in some of ResMed’s ventilators. To ensure you receive the right ‘volume’ of air needed for your therapy, iVAPS intelligently monitors whether air is flowing in or out of your lungs, the amount of air that’s flowing through and how much air you need for the next breath.
See also: Volume

 

 

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L

 

Latex-free

All ResMed masks are latex-free.

 

 

Leak; leaking; leaking air or bad leak

Leak refers to air escaping (or leaking) out of your mask due to issues such as the wrong mask size, the mask not being assembled or fitted properly, or if the mask is becoming worn out and needs to be replaced.

 

 

Lower airway

The respiratory system is made up of all the organs in your body that help you breathe. The windpipe and lungs make up the lower airway. The lower airway is protected by the chest cavity, which also contains the heart.
See also: Upper airway; Respiratory system; Mask leak

 

 

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M

 

Minute ventilation

Refers to the volume of air breathed in (or out) within any 60-second period.

 

 

Mouth leak

Refers to air escaping (or leaking) out of your mouth during positive airway pressure therapy. This happens when you breathe through your mouth rather than your nose, and your mouth is not covered by a therapy mask.

 

 

Mixed apnoea

This is a mixture of both obstructive sleep apnoea, where there is a blockage (or obstruction) in the upper airway, and central sleep apnoea, where no effort is made to breathe.
See also: Central sleep apnoea (CSA); Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA); Lower airway

 

 

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N

 

Nasal masks

Nasal masks are a type of therapy mask used during positive airway pressure therapy. Nasal masks cover only the nose.
See also: Nasal pillow masks; Full face masks

 

 

Nasal pillow masks

Nasal pillow masks are a type of mask used during positive airway pressure therapy. The nasal pillows rest at the entrance to the nose, gently sealing the nostrils. These masks have minimal facial contact and are less obtrusive than nasal or full face masks.
See also: Nasal masks; Full face masks

 

 

NMD (Neuromuscular disease)

Refers to a range of diseases and conditions that affect your muscles. This can be due to the nature of the muscles themselves or the nerves in the muscles.

 

 

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV)

NIV is a noninvasive way to deliver air to your system in an effort to help you breathe. In NIV, pressurised air is delivered from a small device that sits on your bedside table, to a mask that you wear over your face. It does not require any surgery or any equipment to enter your body.
See also: Invasive ventilation

 

 

Non-REM sleep

The sleep cycle is made up of two recurring sleep states: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement). Both phases are important for different functions within our body.
See also: REM

 

 

(NPPV) Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation

Also known as noninvasive ventilation.
See also: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV)

 

 

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O

 

OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnoea)

OSA is the most common type of SDB (sleep-disordered breathing). OSA is where an apnoea or hypopnoea occurs due to a complete or partial blockage (or obstruction) in the upper airway.
See also: Apnoea; SDB; upper airway; hypopnoea

 

 

Oximeter

An oximeter is a small sensor that clips onto your fingertip to calculate your pulse rate and oxygen saturation. It is usually used with a home sleep testing device such as ResMed’s ApneaLink Plus.
See also: Pulse rate; oxygen saturation

 

 

Oxygen therapy

A treatment where oxygen is delivered to your airway via a tube to help you breathe.

 

 

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P

 

Periodic breathing

Periodic breathing describes an unstable breathing pattern throughout the night. In periodic breathing, you will have periods during your breathing cycle where breathing is deep and then shallow, which can lead to having a central apnoea (where you stop breathing for more than 10 seconds) even though your airway is not blocked.
See also: Apnoea; Central sleep apnoea (CSA)

 

 

Pressure

Therapy devices measure the force of air delivered to you in units of pressure (i.e. centimetres of water or cm H2O). For example, if your care provider prescribes a therapy pressure of 25 cm H2O, then that’s the force of air needed to keep your airway open to minimise or avoid apnoeas.
See also: Therapy pressure

 

 

Pressure port

Refers to places in the mask where oxygen tubes and/or pressure lines can be directly connected to the mask, so that oxygen and pressure can be monitored.

 

 

Pulse rate

Refers to the number of heart beats in a 60-second time frame. Your pulse rate can be measured by an oximeter.
See also: Oximeter

 

 

Polysomnography (PSG)

This is a test used to monitor sleep. The reading from a PSG can be used to assess the quality of your sleep and the likelihood that you have a sleep disorder.

 

 

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R

 

Radiated noise

Refers to the sound made by therapy equipment-it’s the sound you hear in the room.
See also: Conducted noise

 

 

Rainout

Rainout refers to water droplets or moisture in your tubing or mask. If your bedroom gets too cold at night, the amount of water vapour that can be held by the air decreases, causing condensation – or rainout – in the tube. This can create issues during PAP therapy. Using a humidification solution like ResMed’s Climate Control can help minimise rainout.

See also: Humidification; Climate Control

 

 

Ramp

Designed to make therapy more comfortable, Ramp helps you ease into therapy each night. It’s where your PAP device is set to start at a lower pressure than prescribed and slowly ramps up to your full therapy pressure over a maximum of 45 minutes. This gives you time to fall asleep or get used to breathing with your equipment on before your pressure reaches the prescribed setting.
See also: Therapy pressure

 

 

REM sleep

The sleep cycle is made up of two recurring sleep states: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement). Both phases are important for different functions within our body.
See also: Non-REM

 

 

Respiratory system

The respiratory system is made up of all the organs in your body that help you breathe. It is made up of the upper and lower airways.
See also: Upper airway; Lower airway

 

 

Respiratory rate

Refers to the frequency of breathing, measured as the number of breaths per minute.

 

 

ResScan

ResScan is the name of ResMed’s PC-based data management software. It’s the software that care providers, healthcare professionals and equipment suppliers might use to download your therapy information to assess your therapy progress.

 

 

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S

 

SDB (Sleep-Disordered Breathing)

SDB is a term used to describe a group of conditions where a person has trouble breathing or stops breathing while they’re asleep. Also referred to generally as “sleep apnoea”.
See also: Sleep apnoea

 

 

Seal (or good seal)

Your mask needs to seal well on your face for you to get the full benefit of therapy. A good seal means that the air pressure being delivered to you is distributed evenly and comfortably and is not leaking out from your mask. You will know it’s a good seal because your mask will feel firm but not tight on your face and around the headgear. If you hear or feel any air escaping from your mask (i.e. ‘leaking’) your mask is not sealing well. (Check that you have the right mask type for your face, the right mask size, and that your mask fits correctly.)

 

 

Settling time; Ramp

See: Ramp

 

 

Sleep apnoea

This is the general name given to a group of conditions where you stop breathing while you’re asleep. Sleep apnoea is also sometimes called sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).
See also: SDB