Hybrid elbow leak

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:50 pm

Help!!!
Last night, I was awakened by that tell-tale sound of a mask leak!
I began probing all parts of the mask and finally determined that the leak was coming from the elbow connect. Seems like the elbow has got an ever-so-slight up/down movement, when it should just have a swivel back and forth movement! I am trying to fix it before bed tonight (and I do not want to drag out the duct tape !) Has anyone had this happen yet? Didn't I read here that some Hybrid users placed another type of hose connection or swivel on this mask? I am desperate to stop this leak! Please, help!

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:25 pm

How bad is the leak?

Did you call the customer service number?

I would try teflon tape (you know the white tape with no glue) it might get you through the night.

If customer service and the tape don't help it appears you can take the elbow off and put a shim behind it to tighten the seal but I would only attempt this as a last resort.

mousetater · Post by **mousetater** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:33 pm

inacpapfog,

I think this is the posting you were referring to:
viewtopic.php?t=11467

It suggests using the swivel assembly for the Mirage Activa.

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:39 pm

Thanks, tooly!
I think that I do have some of that white teflon stuff you're talking about. I will try to wrap some of it around the elbow seal before going to sleep. It does not seem too bad of a leak. And it is not a constant leak.
I think it happens as the elbow catches that upward pressure when my body shifts and I move the hose around.
I just found someone's hint of placing the short activa hose between the stiffer heated hose and the Hybrid mask itsef. They say that the added flexibility help!
I'll try anything to keep my Hybrid working for me!
But, I will still call cutomer support tomorrow to report this problem.
I honestly would not expect this to happen when the mask is less than 2 months old!

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:42 pm

yup, mousetater!
That's the one I was looking for!
Great to have friends around! Thanks!

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:42 pm

I got that Activa swivel assembly tube based on the advice
posted in the link that mousetater listed.
But it turns out that its a short length of hose with a swivel on one end.
Effectively it extends your hose a little and gives it more flexibility.
I like it because now the hose doesn't tug at the mask so much.
But I don't think it will help a leak at the swivel on the mask unless just a little less pressure on the swivel joint will help.
However, if it were me, I'd call customer service first and if that doesn't work, buy the short activa hose with swivel and use the teflon tape suggested above.

Maryb

greyhound - guest · Post by **greyhound - guest** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 8:00 pm

If teflon tape doesn't work, you might try painter's tape (the blue or purple, low adhesive tape) - may seal the area without leaving gunk on the mask. I'm planning to cover up some of the exhaust holes in my hybrid tonight to see if it helps reduce the leak rate.

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 8:18 pm

Nice chance to show off my multi colored Pad-a-cheeks!

I couldn't resist taking it apart and yes I did get it back together.
you have 4 parts the mask, the elbow and two plastic washers one with a split in it.
If the washer without the split were to be replaced with a thicker one it would tighten the seal up.
I can also hear leaks from the elbow but only if I purposely move it back and forth. I keep the extra hose next to me in bed so it never seems to tug on it.

Almost forgot to give credit to the person who helped me edit and post the photos.......My 11 year old son

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose, seal

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 8:26 pm

Great job Tooly & son!

I doubt most can get that kind of customer service from any of the pros ... or that quickly.

The people on this forum are absolutely awsome !!

EDIT: I noticed you got one of those ports taped off ... is it helping to bring your numbers down?

- roberto

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:44 pm

DreamStalker wrote:I noticed you got one of those ports taped off ... is it helping to bring your numbers down?

You have a good eye Roberto

Unfortunately I got my machine before I found this board so I wound up with a machine with no smart card.I do however have my auto on the way

I have just been feeling a little too tired after work and after reading some posts about the new shell with smaller holes I decided to try blocking some off.

I started with two holes but it felt "stuffy" in the mask so I went down to one.
Can't say I really have felt a difference I will have to wait for my auto and begin playing around then.

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:10 pm

tooly, you are dead on!
That O-ring area in your photo is exactly where mine is leaking from!!! And, like you say, in certain positions, all is fine, but if I move, the great hiss rears its head and..BAMM!!!.... there goes my sleep!!!

How in the world did you take yours apart without breaking it?
And, if I were able to take it apart, where would I get a replacement washer?

I called the 800 number listed for Innomed and discussed this problem with a staff rep. She told me to contact the seller and ask for a replacement. Since I got mine from cpap.com, I was wondering if anyone here has gone to this extreme yet??

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:18 pm

inacpapfog wrote:tooly,
How in the world did you take yours apart without breaking it?
And, if I were able to take it apart, where would I get a replacement washer?

It is actually not to hard to take apart all I used were two sewing needles.
I would add a washer to the exsisting one trace the original and cut a new one out of any plastic.Maybe buy a cheap picture frame and use the plastic that covers the picture?

wolftracker · Post by **wolftracker** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:09 am

two needles???

at least i need more help then that ...
what do u do to the elbow with the needs ...
poke and push???

can you be a little more instructive ....

maybe a picture or two

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 10:12 am

wolftracker wrote:can you be a little more instructive ..

OK I will try to describe it the best I can its kind of hard to take pictures of with everything being clear.

It's kind of hard to see in the picture but if you look at the elbow from the inside of the mask you will see the ring with the split that Is pointed out in the picture.

What you do is lightly poke the ring with the needles on either side then move the needles away from each other.
The split will get bigger now you want to lift one side up once you have it this far just grab the end and gently pull.
The elbow has a groove in the end(see picture) that the ring fits in once you remove the ring the elbow will fall out.

It's easier than it sounds.

Hope thats better

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 10:26 am

tooly125 wrote:
DreamStalker wrote:I noticed you got one of those ports taped off ... is it helping to bring your numbers down?
You have a good eye Roberto

Unfortunately I got my machine before I found this board so I wound up with a machine with no smart card.I do however have my auto on the way

I have just been feeling a little too tired after work and after reading some posts about the new shell with smaller holes I decided to try blocking some off.

I started with two holes but it felt "stuffy" in the mask so I went down to one.
Can't say I really have felt a difference I will have to wait for my auto and begin playing around then.

I taped some holes on my F & P 431, the other nite, leak rate dropped from 38.65 to 25.78, My snores trippled and my AHI did too. the same result as untaped. So from this I know it's not the extra flow that is causing the poor results. Jim

Hybrid elbow leak

Hybrid elbow leak

for us slow hoser heads ...

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