For millions of Americans, a good night's sleep is hard to find. For those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, the airway can collapse on itself during deep sleep, causing the patient to stop breathing. One common treatment for this malady is the application of positive pressure to the patient's airway using a CPAP or APAP machine. These devices apply a continuous positive airway pressure to hold open the patient's throat, allowing them to breath. In dry climates, though, this flow of air can also serve to dry out a person's mouth, nose and throat. For patients using newer automatic positive airway pressure devices, a traditional CPAP humidifier with a tight seal can help alleviate this problem.
Step 1
Disconnect the 6-foot-long hose from the front of the APAP device. Leave the APAP mask and headgear assembly on the other end of this hose.
Step 2
Add sterile water to the CPAP pass-over humidifier up to the "Full" mark. Connect one end of a short length pressure hose to the inlet port on the top of the humidifier.
Step 3
Attach the other end of the short hose to the pressure output on the front of the APAP device.
Step 4
Install the six-foot-long hose to the top outlet on the CPAP humidifier. Ensure that all hose connections are tight.
Step 5
Use the APAP device as you normally would. Add sterile water to the CPAP reservoir, as necessary.
Things You'll Need
- CPAP pass-over humidifier chamber
- Sterile water
- Short pressure hose.
