Hybrid pillow leaks?

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:30 pm

Is anyone else experiencing hybrid pillow leaks, no matter which sizes they try, that are giving them high leak numbers, High AHIs and yet low pressure? I did a double take today--never had double digit AHIs before. I've finally figured out that the best solution for me is a small one in the left nostril and a large in the right nostril (i have a deviated septum. Still, the mask fitting device on my S8 first says excellent and then runs down the scale to poor and up again a bit in a short amount of time. I think my leak problems are caused by something about the pillows, and yes, i've tried the high and low positions--soon i may try my own super low position. There is somethng in the direction of these things that makes it not work as well as it should. And I think the pillows need a lip on top that would hold them in place. I used vaseline last nite, which holds swift pillows in place, but the vaseline made the Hybrid pillows move more. I figured this out while holding a hand mirror to my face while the mask was in place and seeing that there were gaps where the pillows meet, or rather, don't meet my nostrils.

Any thoughts? Similarities?

caroline

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:09 am

Do you have the chin flap on yours ... chin flap could be pulling your mask down preventing pillows from making good seal ... some have had to cut off chin flap but you risk a gaping mouth by doing that.

- roberto

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:33 am

I've been experiencing leaks at the 100+ level, no matter what adjustments I've made. I'm waiting for a call back from Innomed to see if they've got any suggestions.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:54 am

Any thoughts? Similarities?

caroline

Most nasal pillows are designed to contact only the inside of your nares.
A proper fit for me is when the 'ridge' that runs around the pillow does not
touch my nose. I find this true with both the Hybrid and the CL2. I do use
a bit of Bag Balm on my nares with the Hybrid.

My Encore is showing my average leak rate at 42 LPM at 9 cm/H2O (that's .7 LPS for you ResMed owners)

I have found it impossible to go back to the CL2. However, I may have discovered the problem, while writing this post. The pillow size I'm using is too small, because the 'ridge' is touching my nares and the CL2 leak rate is higher than the Hybrid's.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:03 am

I tied a length of dental floss from one of the masks top posts to the other top post. This holds the pillows in toward my face and closer together. I read about this here and have been doing it for a month. It works wonderfully for me.

Brenda

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:16 am

brenda--

i'm not understanding. what do you mean from one top post to the other?

oldgearhead__

what do you mean not touching your nose? if it doesn't touch your nose, really nostrils, then how do you get a seal? maybe i think you mean nostrils. can you please clarify?

roberto-

cutting off the chin flap is a thought but i think i would run that by innomed before trying it. in passing, although i did not know where the leaks were coming from at that point, i suggested that to the innomed designer. he said that's a fix for people with chin problems. once the chin flap is gone, it's gone and won't be there if you need it.

thanks to all of you. despite my saying that i would not play with this last night, i did, and got nowhere. every size combination i tried gave me leaks. maybe i'm not understanding how they are supposed to fit, but they are not fitting.

caroline

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:37 am

There are posts on each side of the mask where the headgear hooks on. Tie the dental floss from the uppermost post on one side to the upper most post on the other side. Make it just tight enough to 'pull' the pillows in toward your face. This will also move the pillows closer together. I actually used a tape style dental floss so it is less likely to damage the pillows. I don't remove the floss when cleaning, just wash the mask with the floss still on. Works fine for me.

Brenda

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:42 am

I tied a length of dental floss from one of the masks top posts to the other top post. This holds the pillows in toward my face and closer together

--Brenda/CL2 since May I have been doing this trick, only with 2 bread wrapper tyes instead of fishing line. It helps quite a bit.

what do you mean not touching your nose?

Caroline/Pillows- What I mean is the 'ridge' that runs around the pillow should not touch the
nostrils. Contact should be inside the nostrils, not outside.

Hybrid Flap - I ditched mine two months ago. Cuts the mouthpiece weight by
40%, and make it cooler to wear. The pressure on the area above and below the mouth, actually works better than a chin-strap anyway.

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:46 am

oldgearhead:

thanks.

so since you understand the dental floss/bread wrapper trick, maybe you could explain it to me.

maybe i will cut off the chin flap if it is a non-essential part. and anything for a better seal.

caroline

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:55 am

some have had to cut off chin flap but you risk a gaping mouth by doing that.

Roberto - I have a very bad case of gaping mouth. As soon as I doze off
my chin relaxes completely. Chin-straps don't work, for me, but cutting off the Hybrid's flap holds my mouth closed better than a chin-strap. You can
easily test this in the comfort of you own home:

__Place your forefinger, in a horizontal position, under you chin (like a chin-strap). Next drop your jaw. Is the finger effective in this position?

__Now place the same finger, in a horizontal position against the spot where
your chin and lower gums meet. Drop your jaw. Doesn't the finger work better on this spot than under the chin?

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:02 am

Oldgearhead-
so are you saying that that ridge on the nasal pillows is supposed to go inside your nostrils? I thought it was supposed to be on the outside and sort of push up against the nostril lightly (only enough to get a seal).
Am I missing something here?

Maryb

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:12 am

You should have gotten a video CD with your mask ... if you did not or you lost it, try the link below ... it shows some video clips for how to fit it properly ...

http://www.hybridmask.com/video_index.htm

- roberto

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:17 am

The high CO2 washout of the Hybrid registers on the Resmed machines as increased leak rate. Make sure you are using the full face mask setting. Thsi sdoens't address your pillow leak problem but can explain your higher leak ratings.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:56 am

Oldgearhead-
so are you saying that that ridge on the nasal pillows is supposed to go inside your nostrils? I thought it was supposed to be on the outside and sort of push up against the nostril lightly (only enough to get a seal).
Am I missing something here?

What works best, for me, is to have the slope of the nasal pillow
contact the inside of the nares. If you are using a large enough
nasal pillow, it will seal before the 'ridge' contacts the outside of
the nostrils.

Your milage may vary..

Director of Corp Develop · Post by **Director of Corp Develop** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:03 pm

Just want everyone to know that the developers of the Hybrid are coming to these sites and really listening to your feedback. The engineers are taking your insight and ideas and working hard to improve on the technology. It is so critical that all of the patients are comfortable and we thank all of you for trying the devices and offering your opinions. You are the most important people who are really the experts and we hope to hear more of your valuable opinions.

Cordially,

Peter DeCicco
Director
InnoMed

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Hybrid pillow leaks?

Hybrid pillow leaks?

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