New Quattro Air FFM

[MagsterMile]

I haven't heard much on this forum lately about the mask and wonder how folks are doing with their trials of it.

I was looking at the ResMed site and vendor sites for info on the mask. I even printed out the template for measurement. According to the template I would wear a 'small'. My greatest fear is that they did not really design the mask for females and just put on pretty pink headgear and called it for 'Her'.

Many, many years ago, back in the late 70's early 80's, I started jogging and could not find a pair of running shoes sized for women. Back then, the clerk would try the men's sizes on you and you went from there. Some years later they came out with sizes for women. Somewhere a light must have gone off that women do in fact have different bone structure in their feet then men do.

I'm by no means a small or petite woman. I'm tall at 5'8" and weight around 180 lbs. I guess that means that I must wear a men's size small mask. I've often read that investigators can often tell that a skull found is either for a male or female. Cut the pretty pink crap and actually design a mask based on a woman's face.

[hyperlexis]

You haven't tried the mask but you are basing this accusation against ResMed on only conjecture, that there isn't at least some substantive design element involved, other than color.

It may very well be that there is.

[Denial Dave]

After 3 days of using the Quattro Air, I set it aside and went back to old reliable Quattro

I set it aside only because of a comfort factor... I really really hate the feel of silicone on my face.

So the AIR is set aside until there is a pad-a-cheek liner available for it. I tried to use the regular Quattro liner, but it was just too baggy on it.

The Quattro Air mask itself is very comfortable as are the straps.

it's funny, the new texturing of the cushion seems to silence "face fart"s... I got a few leaks after my facial oils built up during the night, but no sounds.

When using the Quattro my 95% leak rate is right around 10.... Using the AIR over 3 days, the 95% leak rate was about 15.

once I get a liner for my Quattro Air, it will be my mask of choice

after all, it all comes down to achieving comfort when you are strapping an alien onto your face for 7-8 hours a day

[hyperlexis]

After 3 days of using the Quattro Air, I set it aside and went back to old reliable Quattro

I set it aside only because of a comfort factor... I really really hate the feel of silicone on my face.

So the AIR is set aside until there is a pad-a-cheek liner available for it. I tried to use the regular Quattro liner, but it was just too baggy on it.

The Quattro Air mask itself is very comfortable as are the straps.

it's funny, the new texturing of the cushion seems to silence "face fart"s... I got a few leaks after my facial oils built up during the night, but no sounds.

When using the Quattro my 95% leak rate is right around 10.... Using the AIR over 3 days, the 95% leak rate was about 15.

once I get a liner for my Quattro Air, it will be my mask of choice

after all, it all comes down to achieving comfort when you are strapping an alien onto your face for 7-8 hours a day

OK just a recap -- your decision is because the pad-a-cheek liner isn't made to fit the Air?

When describing the actual cushion of the Air, would you say it is thicker, width and depth wise than the silicone cushion on the old Quattro? Firmer silicone? Softer? More give with movement than the old Quattro? It's hard to tell from the pictures, although it does seem to look more like a thicker version of the QFX cushion.

[Denial Dave]

yes, I have set it aside for now until I can figure out a liner for it. I'm not very crafty, so my trying to cut a liner out of a t-shirt only turns a perfectly good t-shirt into trash.



I've worn all three masks since starting CPAP - Quattro FX, Quattro and now the Quattro AIR... I've worn a medium size in all three masks.

I no longer own the FX, so I can't go back and compare fit.... but the Quattro and the AIR are very similar in fitting / size.

In my humble opinion, the feel of the cushion in the AIR is indeed a lot like the feel of the Quattro FX cushion. It does seem to be a little firmer than the cushion on the standard Quattro.

The redesign of the cushion in the Quattro AIR puts little or no pressure on the bridge of the nose. I did feel some new pressure on the sides of my nose, but nothing that caused red marks or disruptive to my sleep. it's just a little different.

hope that helps...

Dave


"OK just a recap -- your decision is because the pad-a-cheek liner isn't made to fit the Air?

When describing the actual cushion of the Air, would you say it is thicker, width and depth wise than the silicone cushion on the old Quattro? Firmer silicone? Softer? More give with movement than the old Quattro? It's hard to tell from the pictures, although it does seem to look more like a thicker version of the QFX cushion. "

[BlackSpinner]

[quote="MagsterMile"
I've often read that investigators can often tell that a skull found is either for a male or female. Cut the pretty pink crap and actually design a mask based on a woman's face. [/quote]

Yes - by the brow ridges so unless the new Quatro goes over your smaller brow ridges it is not a concern.

[hyperlexis]

[quote="MagsterMile"
I've often read that investigators can often tell that a skull found is either for a male or female. Cut the pretty pink crap and actually design a mask based on a woman's face.

Yes - by the brow ridges so unless the new Quatro goes over your smaller brow ridges it is not a concern.[/quote]


You could really confuse the cops at a murder scene -- put a pink Resmed mask on the skeleton..... Hmmm a man's brow ridge but a Lady FX, what a mystery!

[TangledHose]

I received my new Quattro Air on Friday and decided to use it that night. I am using an S9 AutoSet with pressure of 10 to 13cm (moderate pressure) and I have the Cimateline hose with the humidity setting on Auto and 84 degrees. My standard mask has been the Mirage Quattro - - so after a few hours of use I found that the Quattro Air has some distinct improvements - The face cushion is probably a little better, it's thicker and made with a kind of slightly roughed material that doesn't seem to stick to your face as much as totally smooth silicone does, which was a bit more comfortable. The thickness around the bridge of the nose made it more comfortable in that region as well. The head gear is good - maybe slightly better than the old Mirage Quattro. I also found the new "Butterfly" forehead support surprisinly good and also more comfortable. And the big difference is the overall weight of the new mask -- very light and feels that way when wearing it. The new mask is also mechanically simple, basically the cushion, the frame, the elbow, and the headgear - that's all there is to it. All those are positive points for the new Quattro Air.

Now for the downside(as I see it) -- of course your results may vary. My number one complaint is the new position of the exhaust ports - unlike the older Mirage Quattro which vented in a concentrated flow out away from your face and at an upward angle, the new Quattro Air has it's exhaust ports located in a circle around the elbow connection, so basically right in front and a bit lower than the tip of your nose - - I suppose the designers were attempting to simplify the mask and diffuse the exhaust air in a more quiet fashion, but the result is exhaust air blowing out in all directions around the elbow connection which would blow air on my upper arms, lower arms, hands, and also the exhaust strikes the back of the elbow and cpap hose and blows back on my chin. I tend to sleep on my side so that is why I was feeling a lot of the exhaust air on my arms and hands, this may vary for other people depending on their sleeping positions. The resulting exhaust air hitting me in various places basically made this a deal breaker for me - - despite the fact that my system is set to 84 degrees the exhaust air is always going to feel colder than room air, and with it blowing against arms, hands, and deflected blow-back on my chin, it made the mask annoying to say the least. So I only lasted a few hours before switching back to my Mirage Quattro. The other negative I can report, at least in my experience, is the lack of clips for the head gear - - the two lower attachments are simply hooking the loops of the headgear over two hooks on the mask, so when I would un-hook the lower left headgear loop to take the mask off, if I was going to the bathroom, the slack in the headgear would cause the loop on the opposite side to fall off when I put the mask down - so when I would go to put the mask back on I would often find both lower loops unhooked - the one I unhooked, and the other side that had fallen off the hook due to slack, so then it was more effort to put the mask back on - - with the clips on the Mirage Quattro this was never a problem. In making the new mask more simple they have created a new problem with the lower two headgear attachment points.

I returned the mask today -- thank goodness cpap dot com offered free return insurance with this mask!

It's a good mask with many positive improvements, but depending on your preferred sleeping position you may, or may not, find the new exhaust port location results in air blowing on various body parts that results in a less than positive sleeping experience. Give it a try and see what you think - - that is if you can afford the ridiculous price.

[avi123]

About the vent flow, what about diverting the direction with a taped hood? And about the headgear strap to the hook connection, to wrap adhesive tape on one side so it does not get detached when removing the mask by the other hand strap.




Overall, a link from this chain could be used for the connection of the headgear velcroed strap to the hook on the mask and make the linking easier:





Website:

http://www.homeclick.com/livex-5607-dec ... 67499808-2

[pastorj]

I really wanted this mask to work. I was not able to use the Quattro because of the leaks. I am having the same problem with the Quattro Air. I have followed the fitting instructions included with the mask as well as the videos I have been able to find. The size is okay. It's just that I cannot get a decent seal without getting the straps too tight. I like that the mask is lightweight and simple to take apart to clean. It's just that I cannot get a good seal. Perhaps it's just the shape of my face. I will be sending the mask back and go back to my Opus 360 and taping.
I hope others have better luck with the mask.

[DoriC]

Tangled, Thanks for your update on the Air, we've been using it for 3 days and I'm having a hard time figuring out what's wrong and what's right about this mask. Your description of the exhaust port really helps me because hubby seems a bit more restless and his arms are not in their usual position, as if he's trying to protect his arms from the exhaust air. His head also seems to be in an unusual and unnatural position tilting upwards. Now I believe it may have something to do with the exhaust blowing on his face. It's also hard for me to check for leaks with the exhaust coming out of all sides. With the Quattro I can just put my hands around the edges and feel for leaks. I really love the simple design of the Air , it's very lightweight ,very quiet and not as bulky as the Quattro. I'll give it a few more days but I think it's a No for us.

[MagsterMile]

I appreciate everyone's helpful tips on the new mask. I am concerned about the exhaust blowing on my arms. That's the same problem I had with the Mirage Liberty. I'm currently using the Hybrid and the venting system is far superior to the Liberty. As far as the Mirage Quattro, I really liked that the venting was where it was and never had a problem blowing on my arms. Unfortunately, the darn thing killed my nose and the leaks to my eyes were causing a problem with my left eye. I do love how the Mirage Liberty has the easy disconnect of the elbow from the mask. The Hybrid doesn't, so that isn't a positive for it. I guess us FFM folks are the most difficult to please. It's too bad. However,I will give the new Air a chance. Thanks for letting me 'vent' and perhaps I am making assumptions that they didn't design the new Air for the female face.

[chunkyfrog]

When I had orthodontia, my overbite was "corrected" by pushing my upper teeth backwards,
rather than fixing my slightly undersized lower jaw. Due to the position of my jaw,
I have yet to see a Re$Med full face mask able to seal at both my chin and nose simultaneously.
Even the Liberty would not meet my chin.
Of course, if my overbite had been solved by moving my jaw forward,
not only would the Re$Med masks actually fit me, I probably would not need CPAP at all!
I'm guessing the "short bus" stops frequently at Re$Med.

[avi123]

This Hans Rudolph 7600 V2 mask answers almost all the above negative remarks about the Quattro AIR and it costs $50 less:

[tonycog]

So far, the new Air is a No-Go for me also. I can't get a good seal with it unless I really cinch it down. The result is a very uncomfortable fit with deeper strap marks on my face when I get up. I also do not like the new venting system. I do not find it to be quieter in any way. My wife still gets hit by the vented air, so it fails in its claim of not disturbing your bed-partner.

I really, really wanted this mask to be a winner, but I've now tried it 2 different nights and both nights I have given up after about 2 to 3 hours and switched back to my Quattro.