Hybrid Modification #2

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:55 pm

Hybrid Modification #2

I’ve said this elsewhere on this forum, but I’ll state the problem again. With my Hybrid the cheek-to-cheek radius of the medium mouthpiece is about perfect for me. However, it verily covers my mouth, making it difficult to even open my mouth with the unit on. The large mouthpiece covers my mouth just fine, but its cheek-to-cheek radius is much greater, making it very hard to seal near the mouth corners. So this is what I did to try to reduce the radius of the large mouthpiece:

Tools – Wire cutters and small straight-blade screwdriver.

Material – I used insulated, 18Ga MTW electrical hook-up wire that is about 2.5 millimeters in diameter. However, any tubing or insulated wire of that diameter could be used, as long as it fits snugly into the seal groove of the Hybrid.

1) Cut 2 pieces of the wire 60mm long.
2) Mark a spot each piece of wire, 15mm from one end.
3) Line up the mark on the first piece of wire to align with the top right-hand plastic headgear studs, located on the shell. Push the wire down into the mouthpiece groove with a small screwdriver, making sure you leave 15mm of wire to the left of the stud.
4) Push the wire down tight, all around the corner of the mask shell groove.
5) Install the other wire in the left side shell groove, leaving 15mm of wire to the right of the top left-hand stud. Push down tight.
6) Install the mouthpiece in the shell groove. This will be a bit tricky, because the mouthpiece will not seat all the way, because of the wires.

Note: All directions are from the patients’ viewpoint.

You need to be very careful the mouthpiece stays in the groove when you put on the mask. Now when you tighten the headgear the top and bottom centers will move into the groove 2.5 millimeters and the edges will engage you cheeks a bit more. This should take some of the pressure from the center of the mask and move it the corners.

I have not tried sleeping with this set-up yet, but it looks promising.

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 2:02 pm

JRS:

Very interesting, nicw work. I'm looking forward to your review of your handi-work.

I'm curious what kind of leak ratew you are getting with your Hybrid.

Mine is at 75 and showing continuous LArge Leak where as my Activa shows 25-30 most of the time.

Do you have access to leak numbers?

Thanks,

Tom

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:28 am

I tried it last night. The large mouthpiece,large pillows, and the two pieces of wire. It worked fine, maybe a bit too well, because I had a 'shield shaped' mark were the right edge of the mask contacted my cheek. The neat thing is, there are no more leaks at the corners.

Data - I am not going to review any data until I have 5 nights in a row with the same equipment. Also, I haven't bought Encore Pro yet, because I still have a co-pay of $800.00 on my sleep study. Maybe next month.

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:14 am

That's great news.

I'm not sure if the Large Leak is caused by that flap on the elbow. I know it is a safety feature but I am considering putting a piece of tape over it to make sure it's not the problem. When the pressure kicks on I hear it seal but when I put my finger in front of it there seems to be flow from it.

Maybe I'm dreaming.

DO you think #22 guage wire will work for a spacer? Would you double it up so it has more depth?

BTW, you observation on the curve is on point. I am using the Med Cushion eventhough the large fits my mouth better because of the better curve alignment to my face.

Tom

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:12 am

Tom,
It doesn't really matter what you use if:

1) Its flexible

2) It has an O.D. of 2.5 millimeters, anything smaller will fall out and anything larger might either spread the groove and cause more leaks or break out the groove.

I think this mask would fit a lot more people if they had more options for the mouthpiece, curve, mid-sizes, and etc.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:17 am

Woops! I forgot to log in. Above post is mine. As for the check valve, when you put your finger over the holes, you are equalizing the pressure and the valve will 'flutter' and leak air. To properly test it, put a wet finger close to it, but don't touch the plastic..

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:31 am

The flap seems to close but air leaks from it.

Do you have a positive closure on yours?

Also I checked with CPAP.com to see if I could get a replacement elbow and they said the only replacement parts they have (so far) are cushions and pillows.

Tom

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:45 am

The Hybrid's passive exhalation port flow graph is calibrated in liters/min., same as RemStar. I see that 75 LPM is correct if your pressure is 27 cm/H2O.

If you tape over the check valve port, DON'T GET DRUNK FIRST. The power could fail and you might not wake up.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:46 am

Woops! i meant to say, 75 LPM is correct with 22 cm/H2O.

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:54 am

I'm running 75 at 10cm. Seems that is almost double, yes?

Tom

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:44 pm

Yep, 10 cm/H2o should be 46 LPM.

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:52 pm

I'm going to put some tape over the flap and see what happens to the leak numbers.

Maybe it's really not the flap but the pillows. I'm siprised I could sleep with a constant leak like that...

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:16 pm

roztom wrote:Also I checked with CPAP.com to see if I could get a replacement elbow...

Have you found that you can detach that elbow? It didn't look/feel detachable to me and I didn't want to force it.

David

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:47 pm

Gosh David, I didn't look that closely. I assummed it did.

Tom

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:46 am

That elbow does not detach. I taped the flap last night but then had a power failure due to severe weather.

However, I leaked heavily from the pillows.

I'm not done with this mask yet but I am running out of options. I trird JRS spacers but I am still getting leaks.

It may be the Hybrid will be joining my Swift on a one-way ride in the trunk of my car to a land-fill in New Jersey.

Tom