Respironics M Series Disposable Ultra-Fine CPAP Filter

Part#: 1029331  |  HCPCS: A7038  |  By Philips Respironics

Disposable Ultra-Fine Filter  |  Installs Before Foam Pollen Filter (Closer to Machine)  |  White Textured Side Toward Machine  |  Replace Every 30 Days–2 Months  |  Not Washable  |  Fits M Series, PR System One & SleepEasy  |  Optional Enhanced Filtration

The Respironics M Series Disposable Ultra-Fine Filter adds enhanced second-stage filtration to M Series REMstar, PR System One, and SleepEasy CPAP and BiPAP machines. Designed to work alongside the reusable foam pollen filter (1029330), the ultra-fine filter catches smaller particles — fine dust, smoke particles, and submicron allergens — that pass through the foam filter's coarser mesh. The white ultra-fine fiber filter installs in the machine's filter slot first, with its white textured side facing toward the machine interior and the Respironics logo side facing outward toward the foam filter. The foam pollen filter is then inserted on top of it in the same slot. The current production version is tab-free — an earlier design included a small tab that was removed after it was found to cause the filter to pop out of position during use. Replace every 30 days to 2 months depending on household air quality. Not washable or reusable. HCPCS A7038. By Philips Respironics.

Specifications

M Series Filter System — Complete Overview

Also need the foam pollen filter? See the M Series Reusable Pollen Filter (1029330). Questions about M Series filter compatibility or multi-pack availability? Call 1-866-218-0902

Key Features

• Inner filter — installs first, closest to machine — unlike the DreamStation's ultra-fine filter which clips onto the pollen filter, the M Series ultra-fine goes directly into the filter slot first with the textured white side facing the machine; the pollen filter is then inserted on top of it in the same slot; this positions the ultra-fine filter as the innermost filter the air passes through before reaching the motor
• White textured fiber medium — the textured white surface is the active filtration side; the smoother side bearing the Respironics logo faces the foam pollen filter
• Tab-free current production — earlier versions of this filter included a small pull-tab on the long edge for easier removal from the filter slot; Philips Respironics determined the tab caused the filter to pop out of position during machine use and removed it from production; current filters are tab-free and rely on friction fit in the filter slot
• Catches smoke, fine dust, and submicron allergens — catches particles smaller than the foam pollen filter's 7–10 micron threshold; particularly effective against cigarette and wood smoke particles, which are small enough to pass through foam filters unimpeded
• Used in combination with the foam pollen filter (1029330) — the foam pollen filter handles larger particles first; the ultra-fine handles what passes through; together they provide comprehensive two-stage intake filtration
• Not washable — wetting the ultra-fine fiber structure destroys its filtration properties; if the filter is accidentally wetted, discard immediately and use a new one
• Replace every 30 days to 2 months — or earlier when the white fiber medium appears visibly discolored; replace more frequently in homes with smokers, pets, high dust, or high pollen environments
• HCPCS A7038 | Optional accessory | By Philips Respironics

Clinical FAQs

How does the M Series ultra-fine filter installation differ from the DreamStation ultra-fine filter, and why does it matter?

The M Series and DreamStation machines use fundamentally different ultra-fine filter installation methods that reflect their different filter housing designs. In the M Series, the ultra-fine filter (1029331) is a flat rectangular pad that slides directly into the machine's filter slot independently — it is inserted first, white textured side toward the machine, before the foam pollen filter (1029330) is inserted on top of it in the same slot. The two filters sit stacked in the slot rather than attached to each other. In the DreamStation, the ultra-fine filter (1122447) snaps onto the underside of the foam pollen filter's plastic frame, and the combined pair is inserted together as a single assembly. Because of this difference, M Series and DreamStation ultra-fine filters are not interchangeable — their shapes, dimensions, mounting systems, and housing fits are specific to each machine platform. The M Series ultra-fine filter is approximately 1-3/4"×7/8" with no attachment mechanism; the DreamStation ultra-fine filter has an integrated snap-fit carrier. Always confirm the machine platform before ordering replacement filters. The model name is printed on the front of the machine or on the bottom/back label — M Series machines will say "REMstar" or "BiPAP" with M Series in the model name, while DreamStation machines say "DreamStation" prominently on the front.

Why does the current M Series ultra-fine filter not have a tab, and does this make it harder to remove?

Earlier production runs of the Respironics M Series ultra-fine filter included a small pull-tab on one long edge, intended to make it easier to remove the thin filter from the slot without tearing it. Philips Respironics subsequently found that the tab, when present, could catch on the edge of the filter slot housing and cause the filter to flip out of its seated position during normal machine operation — potentially allowing unfiltered air to bypass the filter or disrupting the filter's contact with the slot walls. The tab was removed from production as a result. Current tab-free filters are removed by gently pulling the foam pollen filter out of the slot first (the pollen filter comes out easily), which then exposes the ultra-fine filter for removal with a fingernail or fine tool along the edge. Handling the foam filter first before reaching for the ultra-fine filter prevents tearing the thinner ultra-fine medium during removal. Since the pollen filter and ultra-fine filter should be checked and serviced on different schedules (ultra-fine every 30 days to 2 months; pollen filter every 2 weeks to clean and every 6 months to replace), establishing a monthly routine of removing both filters for inspection, replacing the ultra-fine if needed, cleaning the pollen filter, drying, and reinstalling in the correct order is the most practical maintenance approach.

Does adding an ultra-fine filter reduce airflow or affect the prescribed CPAP pressure?

Any filter added to the machine's air intake introduces some degree of additional resistance to airflow. The ultra-fine filter's fiber medium is denser than the foam pollen filter and adds more resistance per unit area. For auto-adjusting CPAP and BiPAP machines (APAP, BiPAP Auto), the machine detects changes in required motor effort to maintain target pressure and compensates automatically — the prescribed pressure is delivered at the mask regardless of the filter's added resistance within the machine's operating range. For fixed-pressure machines, the filter's resistance is accounted for in the machine's motor calibration at standard filter configurations — the manufacturer designs the machine to deliver prescribed pressure with the standard filter set installed. A heavily loaded, overdue ultra-fine filter that is significantly clogged creates substantially more resistance than a clean one, which can begin to affect airflow more noticeably; this is one practical reason to replace on schedule rather than waiting until the filter is completely black. Replacing the ultra-fine filter on its recommended 30-day-to-2-month schedule maintains the filter's resistance within the machine's normal operating assumptions and prevents cumulative airflow restriction from a loaded filter.

Questions about the M Series ultra-fine filter, compatible pollen filter (1029330), multi-pack availability, or CPAP supply coverage? Call our product specialists: 1-866-218-0902  |  Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–3pm EST