1
The MachineWhat it is
A sleep apnea machine. It blows pressurized room air through a tube into a mask, keeping Dad's airway open while he sleeps. No oxygen tank — just air, pressurized.
Our model: M04
- All modes: CPAP, APAP, S, T, ST
- Pressure range: 4–25 cmH₂O
- Weight: ~1.4 kg
- Service life: 5 years
M04 modes at a glance
CPAP = fixed pressure | APAP = auto-adjusting | S / T / ST = bi-level (two pressures: inhale vs exhale)
2
Controls — There Are Only 2| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Start / Stop button 启动/停止 |
Press once on home screen → starts therapy Press once during therapy → stops therapy Hold this + knob together → enters the hidden Doctor Menu (pressure settings) |
| Rotary knob 旋钮 |
Turn = move the cursor / change a value Press = select / confirm / save When a setting is selected, the text turns orange — that means it's editable |
The hidden Doctor Menu (pressure + mode settings)
On the home screen — hold the Start button (启动) and the knob at the same time. Hold until the Doctor Menu appears.
3
ScreensHome screen (待机) — what you see when the machine is on but not running therapy. Has 6 tiles:
| Tile | What you control here |
|---|---|
| Preheat 预加热 |
Pre-warms the humidifier water before starting. Turn on ~10 min before bed. |
| Heated humidity 加温加湿 |
Moisture level 0–6. Highlight and press to set. 0 = off, 6 = maximum moisture. |
| Ramp 延时升压 |
Pressure starts low and slowly climbs to therapy pressure over this time. Range 0–60 min, step 5 min. Helps Dad fall asleep before full pressure hits. |
| Settings 设置 |
Language, screen brightness, pressure units, auto-start, factory reset. |
| Info 信息 |
View therapy stats: AHI score, total hours used, session length, software version. |
| Alerts 提示 |
Set alarm thresholds (high/low pressure, apnea events, leaks). Leave at defaults to start. |
Therapy screen — what you see while therapy is running:
Therapy Screen
Current pressure
8.4
cmH₂O
Mode
APAP
Set min/max
4.0 – 12.0
Leak
2.4
L/min
2.4
L/min
Min vent
22.4
L/min
22.4
L/min
Tidal vol
0
mL
0
mL
Session
2:14
hh:mm
2:14
hh:mm
| Reading | What it means |
|---|---|
| Big number | The actual pressure being delivered right now (in APAP this changes dynamically) |
| Set pressure (设置压力) | The pressure you programmed (or the min–max range in APAP) |
| Leak (漏气量) | Air escaping the mask per minute. Lower = better. High leak = mask is not sealed properly. |
| Minute ventilation (分钟通气量) | Total volume of air moved per minute. Confirms breathing is happening. |
| Tidal volume (潮气量) | Volume of air per breath. |
| Session time (治疗时长) | How long tonight's session has been running. |
4
Settings You Can Change From the Home ScreenHumidity (加温加湿)
| Level | Heater plate temp | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Off (no heat) | If humidifier is empty or not attached |
| 1 | 35°C | Very mild — barely any moisture |
| 2 | 40°C | Good starting point for beginners ← start here |
| 3 | 45°C | More comfortable in air-conditioned rooms |
| 4 | 50°C | Dry environment, older users, mouth-breathers |
| 5 | 55°C | Very dry conditions |
| 6 | 60°C | Maximum moisture — risk of "rainout" (water dripping in tube) |
Water rules
Use distilled water only. No tap water, no mineral water. If you have no distilled water: boil tap water to 100°C, cool to room temperature, then use it. Change water daily. Fill between the MIN and MAX lines — never overfill.
Ramp (延时升压)
Pressure starts at the Initial Pressure setting and slowly climbs up to the therapy pressure over this time window. Recommended for beginners and new users.
Range: 0–60 minutes, in steps of 5. Set to 20–30 min for Dad's first weeks. Once he adjusts, you can reduce it.
Settings menu (设置)
| Setting | Notes |
|---|---|
| Language (语言) | Chinese or English. Restart the machine to apply. |
| Pressure units (压力单位) | cmH₂O or hPa — they are the same thing (1 cmH₂O ≈ 1 hPa). Leave as cmH₂O. |
| Backlight brightness (背光亮度) | 10–100. Dim it at night so it doesn't disturb sleep. |
| Auto-start (自动启动) | Machine auto-starts when it detects breathing. Auto-stops ~1 min after mask is removed. |
| Factory reset (恢复出厂设置) | Resets all settings to default. Use only if something goes wrong. |
5
Doctor Mode — Pressure & Mode Settings
How to enter Doctor Mode
On the home screen: hold the Start button (启动) AND the knob at the same time. Hold until the Doctor Mode screen appears. Inside: turn knob to highlight an item → press to edit (text turns orange) → turn to change the value → press to save.
Step 1 — Choose your mode (通气模式)
| Mode | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| CPAP | One fixed pressure all night. Doesn't adapt. | Once a doctor has prescribed the exact pressure needed. |
| APAP (Auto-CPAP) | Auto-adjusts between a min and max you set. Raises pressure when apnea detected, lowers when breathing is normal. | Beginners. Dad should start here. |
| S (Spontaneous) | Two pressures: higher when you inhale, lower when you exhale. Switches triggered by the patient's own breathing. | Doctor-prescribed bi-level. Not for first-time use. |
| T (Timed) | Two pressures on a fixed timer, regardless of the patient's own breathing effort. | When the patient needs a machine-controlled breathing rate. |
| ST (Spontaneous + Timed) | Runs as S mode normally. If the patient stops breathing, the machine switches to T mode as backup, then returns to S when breathing resumes. | Doctor-prescribed. Safety backup for patients who may stop breathing. |
Step 2 — Set the pressures
| Setting | Mode | Range (M04) | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial pressure 初始压力 |
CPAP & APAP | 4–25, step 0.5 | Starting pressure at the beginning of therapy (the low starting point before ramp climbs). Must be ≤ therapy / min pressure. |
| Therapy pressure 治疗压力 |
CPAP only | 4–25, step 0.5 | The single fixed pressure CPAP holds all night. |
| Min therapy pressure 最小治疗压力 |
APAP only | 4–25, step 0.5 | The lowest pressure APAP will drop to when breathing is normal. |
| Max therapy pressure 最大治疗压力 |
APAP only | 4–25, step 0.5 | The highest pressure APAP will climb to when apnea is detected. |
| Inhale pressure (IPAP) 吸气压力 |
S / T / ST only | 4–23, step 0.5 | Higher pressure delivered when the patient inhales. |
| Exhale pressure (EPAP) 呼气压力 |
S / T / ST only | 6–25, step 0.5 | Lower pressure during exhale. Must always be ≤ IPAP. |
Recommended starting settings for Dad (APAP, first night)
Mode: APAP
Initial pressure: 4.0
Min: 4.0
Max: 12.0
After 1–2 weeks, check the Info screen for the AHI score and the average pressure range the machine was actually using. Tighten the max accordingly.
After 1–2 weeks, check the Info screen for the AHI score and the average pressure range the machine was actually using. Tighten the max accordingly.
Other Doctor Mode settings (bi-level only — M03/M04)
| Setting | Range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Breathing rate (呼吸频率) | 3–30 bpm | In T/ST mode, the machine's backup breathing rate. |
| Pressure rise time (压力上升时间) | 1–3 | How fast pressure jumps from EPAP to IPAP at the start of each inhale. 1 = slowest / gentlest, 3 = fastest. |
| Inhale sensitivity (吸气灵敏度) | 1–5 | How easily the machine detects an inhale attempt and switches to IPAP. 1 = least sensitive, 5 = most. |
| Exhale sensitivity (呼气灵敏度) | 1–5 | How easily the machine detects exhale and switches back to EPAP. 1 = least sensitive, 5 = most. |
| Inspiratory time (吸气时间) | 0.3–2.5 s | In T mode, the set duration of each inhale phase. |
6
Info Screen — All Metrics ExplainedFrom the home screen, highlight Info (信息) and press the knob.
| Metric | Chinese label | What it means | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHI | AHI指数 | Apnea-Hypopnea Index. Number of breathing stoppages or partial stoppages per hour. The most important number. | See scale below |
| Total therapy time | 总治疗时间 | Cumulative hours of use since first setup. | — |
| Session time | 单次治疗时间 | Duration of last night's session. | Aim 6–8 hrs |
| Average leak | 平均漏气量 | Average air escaping the mask per minute during the session. High leak = poor mask seal = therapy is compromised. | As low as possible |
| ODI | 氧减指数 | Oxygen Desaturation Index. Times per hour blood oxygen (SpO₂) dropped more than 4%. High ODI = the body was oxygen-deprived despite the machine. | Should approach 0 |
| Version | 版本号 | Software version of the machine. Our unit: MV-V01.00.00. | — |
| Serial number | 序列号 | Unique ID for warranty and support calls. | — |
AHI — what the number means
Normal
< 5
< 5
Mild
5–15
5–15
Moderate
15–30
15–30
Severe
> 30
> 30
Goal
Consistent AHI below 5. Don't panic if the first night is higher — mask fit and pressure take a few nights to dial in. Check AHI every morning for the first week.
7
Key Metrics — What They Mean & What to Target
What is cmH₂O?
Centimeters of water — the unit of pressure this machine uses. 1 cmH₂O is the pressure needed to push a column of water up by 1 cm. It's very gentle pressure, intentionally so. Typical CPAP runs at 6–12 cmH₂O — barely more than blowing softly through a straw.
| Metric | Full name | Target (sleeping adult) | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| VT (mL) 潮气量 |
Tidal Volume — volume of air per single breath | 400–600 mL | How much air Dad takes in with each breath. Below ~300 mL = something is wrong — likely a leak, obstruction, or poor mask seal. |
| Leakage (L/min) 漏气量 |
Air escaping the mask per minute | < 24 L/min | Air leaking out instead of going into the airway. High leakage = mask is not sealing properly = therapy is being wasted. This is a fit problem, not a pressure problem. Adjust or reposition the mask. |
| MV (L/min) 分钟通气量 |
Minute Ventilation — total air moved per minute = VT × RR |
4–8 L/min | The combined picture of breathing depth and rate. Too low means not enough air is moving — could be obstruction, apnea, or a big leak. If MV is low but RR is normal, VT is the problem (shallow breaths). |
| RR (bpm) 呼吸频率 |
Respiratory Rate — breaths per minute | 10–16 during sleep | How many breaths Dad takes per minute. Consistently low RR (below 10) may indicate apnea events — cross-check with the AHI score. Normal awake rate is 12–20 bpm; sleep slows it slightly. |
| T&H Level 加温加湿 |
Temperature & Humidity level (humidifier setting) | 2–3 to start | A comfort setting, not a medical target. No single "correct" level — adjust by feel. Dry mouth or nose in the morning → go up one level. Water dripping in the tube ("rainout") → go down one level. Range is 0–6. |
How to read them together
- High leakage + low VT → mask is leaking, air isn't reaching the airway. Fix the mask fit first.
- Normal leakage + low VT + low MV → airway may be partially obstructed. Machine may need higher pressure (raise APAP max).
- Low RR + high AHI → Dad is having apnea events. Therapy may need a pressure adjustment.
- Everything normal but AHI still high → check mask seal and try slightly higher max pressure.
8
Alerts & What They MeanFrom home screen → Alerts (提示). These are warning thresholds. When the machine crosses a threshold, it beeps and shows a message.
| Alert | Range | What triggers it |
|---|---|---|
| High pressure (高压提示) | 0–30 cmH₂O | Pressure exceeds this limit. Default is 30 (effectively off). Leave it. |
| Low pressure (低压提示) | 4–29 cmH₂O | Pressure drops below this. 0 = disabled. |
| High apnea rate (高呼吸暂停提示) | 5–80 events/min | Too many apnea events per minute — therapy may not be working. |
| Low minute ventilation (低分钟通气量提示) | 4–40 L/min | Not enough air moving — possible obstruction or disconnected tube. |
| System leak (系统泄漏提示) | On / Off | Large air leak in the circuit. Usually tube not properly connected or mask badly off. |
| Tube disconnect (管道脱落提示) | On / Off | Tube came off the machine. Loud alert. Recommend turning this ON. |
Leave all alerts at default for now. The one exception: turn on the tube-disconnect alert — useful if Dad rolls over and pulls the tube loose at night.
9
Error Messages on Screen| Screen shows | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 系统泄漏 | Large air leak in the circuit | Check tube connections at both the machine and mask ends |
| 管路堵塞 | Tube is blocked | Check the tube is not kinked, squashed, or folded |
| 管路脱落 | Tube disconnected | Reconnect the tube to the machine air outlet |
| 压力过高 / 压力过低 | Pressure sensor fault | Restart the machine. If the message persists, call the supplier. |
| 电源故障 | Power fault | Check the power adapter and cord are properly plugged in |
| 电机异常 | Motor fault | Restart. If it continues, contact supplier. |
| 呼吸频率过高/过低 | Breathing rate out of range | Check mask fit; re-check settings; contact supplier if unresolved |
10
Maintenance Schedule
Always turn off and unplug the machine before any cleaning. Never immerse the main unit in water.
| Task | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Change humidifier water | Daily | Empty old water, refill with fresh distilled water |
| Clean humidifier | Weekly | Empty, soak in mild neutral detergent, rinse with water ≤41°C (especially the bottom), air-dry |
| Clean tube | Weekly | Rinse inside with mild detergent + water, hang to dry away from direct sunlight |
| Replace air filter | Weekly (or sooner) | Open the filter cover, swap the foam pad. Replace immediately if it looks grey/dirty or torn. |
| Wipe main unit | Weekly | Soft cloth, damp with water or mild detergent. Dry before use. |
| Clean mask | Per mask manual | Follow the mask's own instructions. Inspect for cracks or deformation. |
| Empty humidifier before moving | Every time | Water in the humidifier can spill into the machine if tilted |
Cleaning don'ts
No ethanol above 75%. No bleach. Do not soak the humidifier in hot water (≤41°C only). Do not clean while the machine is plugged in. Do not use the machine until all parts are fully air-dried.
Warranty: Main unit 2 years | Power adapter & cord 1 year | Humidifier 90 days.
Supplier: Hebei Maisiwei Medical Equipment Co., Ltd. · Tel: 0318-8581858 (Mon–Fri 8:30–11:30, 14:30–17:30)
11
First Week Checklist
Initial setup — do this once
- Enter Doctor Mode (hold Start + knob) → set mode to APAP
- Set initial pressure to 4.0 cmH₂O
- Set min therapy pressure to 4.0 cmH₂O
- Set max therapy pressure to 12.0 cmH₂O
- From home screen, set Ramp (延时升压) to 20–30 min
- From home screen, set Humidity (加温加湿) to level 2–3
- Fill humidifier with distilled water (between MIN and MAX lines)
- Insert the SD card (side slot) — for therapy data logging
- Turn on the tube-disconnect alert in the Alerts (提示) menu
Every morning — check
- Home screen → Info (信息) → check AHI (goal: below 5)
- Check Average leak — if high, the mask fit needs adjusting
- Empty humidifier water and refill with fresh distilled water
After 7–14 days — review
If AHI is consistently below 5 and Dad sleeps well → you're done, settings are working.
If AHI is still high (machine likely hitting the max pressure ceiling) → raise the max to 14.0–15.0 cmH₂O and monitor for another week.
If AHI is still high (machine likely hitting the max pressure ceiling) → raise the max to 14.0–15.0 cmH₂O and monitor for another week.
!
Safety — Important for an Elderly Patient
Stop using and call a doctor if any of these occur:
Chest pain · Severe headache · Breathing difficulty worsening · Viral or acute upper-airway infection
Absolute — do not use if:
Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) · Severe respiratory failure with no spontaneous breathing · Uncorrected shock / very low blood pressure · Active nosebleed · Uncontrolled upper GI bleed · Recent facial, cranial, ear, or nasal surgery
Fire hazards:
Keep the machine at least 1 metre from any open flame or supplemental oxygen source. Do not smoke near the machine.
This is NOT a life-support device.
A power cut will not cause an emergency — the machine simply stops. It is a comfort and therapy device, not a ventilator for critically ill patients.