Hybrid Mask Assembly

[janp]

Hi,

My husband is having a devil of a time trying to assemble the oral mask to the shell!

No matter what ... the areas on both sides of the mask (between the headgear attachment posts) will not go into the groove enough to provide a proper seal.

Is there some sort of chant that we're supposed to do to get in put together correctly?

Any and all suggestions please ...

Thanks.

Jan

[Muse-Inc]

...the areas on both sides of the mask (between the headgear attachment posts) will not go into the groove enough to provide a proper seal...

Make sure the oral cushion is not upside down. The letters (size like "SM") are facing up and the mask vent holes are also facing up with the swivel hose below.

If you try to assemble it with one piece upside down as I've tried to do a few times when I was really sleepy, the oral cushion won't fit properly.

[timbalionguy]

Also, make sure the upper part of the seal is properly centered in the center of the plastic part, or you will get gaps at the corners that are hard to 'adjust out'. What I do is as follows: Start the upper part of the seal (read Muse-inc's post for identification) a fair ways into the groove, and then get the rest of the seal started into the groove just a little bit. Then, using your thumb and forefinger, seat the top side of the seal into the bottom of the groove. This will tend to pull the sides in as well. Look now at the upper side corners, and see if you are seeing any gaps forming there. If they are forming, you will see it on only one side. If you have a corner gap, again grasp the top side of the seal with thumb and forefinger, ideally in front of the nasal pillows, and slide the seal side-to-side until the gap is gone, or there is a slight-but-equal gap on each side. If you did this right, you should now be able to fully seat the seal all the way around, and it should bottom ut in the groove in all places. After you have done this a few times, it becomes second nature, and is a small price to pay for having a mask with few parts to break.

Another thing for new users of the mask is the angle of the ovals of the nasal pillows. In use, these pillows actually swiver slightly with use to match your nares. But they may be initally a bit uncomfortable unless you are close to start. The best adjustment, in my experience is as follows: If you draw an imaginary line through the major axis of the oval opening, it should tilt inwards about 20-25 degrees with respect to an imaginary line that is perpendicular to the mask, and passes between the pillows. The end of the oval away from your face should tilt in towards the centerline (this is way harder to explain that it actualluy is to do!).

Another trick for fitting the nasal pillows not mentioned in the instructions is to use the set of pillows for which the opening most completely fills your nares. For most people here, this has been the large set. This way, the pillow seals to both the front and sides of the nostril.

Follow the instructions for adjusting the straps. Once you get a good basic fit, then you can experiment with the straps, especially the one that goes over the top of the head. Listmember 'Rooster' has some excellent suggestions on getting a good adjustment on the straps, and some techniques for eliminating leaks on the nasal pillows. They are worth searching out.

[Muse-Inc]

I position the oral cushion and then put the pillows in, easier to fit into the plastic shell that way. Takes a bit of finesse to not dislodge the oral cushion but a few practices makes it easy. In the beginning of wearing this mask, I assembled it when I was still alert, like right after dinner, rather than waiting until bedtime...did that until I got adept at assembling it.

I made a third strap that goes between the 2 top headstraps across the front of the mask that snugs the pillows slightly. I use the small oral cushion and the large pillows; one pillow occasionally leaks at the very end of my nare driving me nuts, hence the extra strap.

Here's Rooster's thread: viewtopic.php?t=14422&highlight=

[janp]

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

We will sit down with the mask and give it another try.

It seems odd that we didn't have a problem with the original mask ... yet the new one has been so frustrating.

Jan

[BlackSpinner]

I found the adjustment at the top of the head is really crucial to keeping the nasal pillows in place. But I also created a strap that goes across the pillows because my nose tilts upward and if I don't have that strap they pop out at the least blink of an eye.

I use a small oral and medium nasal pillows

[Muse-Inc]

If still having problems, call 'em in So FL. Cheryl is the customer service rep and really friendly and helpful. http://www.mergenetsolutions.com/hybrid/contact_us.htm