BiPAP (also referred to as BPAP) stands for Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure, and is very similar in function and design to a CPAP machine (conti­nuous positive airway pressure). Similar to a CPAP machine, A BiPAP machine is a non-in­vasive form of therapy for patients suffering from sleep apnea. Both machine types deliver pressu­rized air through a mask to the patient's airways. The air pressure keeps the throat muscles from collapsing and reducing obstru­ctions by acting as a splint. Both CPAP and BiPAP machines allow patients to breathe easily and regularly throughout the night.

For the most part, CPAP machines have been the go-to treatment for obstru­ctive sleep apnea. CPAP machines deliver a steady, continuous stream of pressu­rized air to patient's airways to prevent them from collapsing and causing apnea events. After a CPAP titration study, your sleep technician and doctor will determine the pressure settings for your CPAP machine and set the machine to deliver that exact amount of pressure contin­uously.

CPAP machines can only be set to a single pressure that remains consistent throughout the night. However, many CPAP machines have a ramp feature that starts off with a lower pressure setting and gradually builds to the prescribed pressure. This comfort feature simply makes the pressure at the beginning more tolerable and less immediate, once the pressure builds to the required setting, it stays at that setting for the rest of the night.

One of the complaints about CPAP devices is that some patients find the constant singular pressure difficult to exhale against. For patients with higher pressure strengths, exhaling against the incoming air can feel difficult, as if they're having to force their breathing out.

BiPAPs can also be set to include a breath timing feature that measures the amount of breaths per minute a person should be taking. If the time between breaths exceeds the set limit, the machine can force the person to breath by tempor­arily increasing the air pressure.

The main difference between BiPAP and CPAP machines is that BiPAP machines have two pressure settings: the prescribed pressure for inhalation (ipap), and a lower pressure for exhalation (epap). The dual settings allow the patient to get more air in and out of their lungs.

BiPAP machines are often prescribed to sleep apnea patients with high pressure settings or low oxygen levels.
BiPAPs are often used after CPAP has failed to adequately treat certain patients.
BiPAPs can be helpful for patients with cardio­pul­monary disorders such as congestive heart failure.
Often prescribed to people with lung disorders or certain neurom­uscular disorders.