Any bad thoughts on the Aura?

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:03 am

I have not heard anything bad about the Aura yet, and as I am contemplating one I would love to hear from those that have one what bad issues there are. I have yet to find anything better than my Activa, but I rock and roll so much in my sleep at night I get a lot of leakage with my Activa, I pull the rubber diaphram out of the groove and it starts leaking there.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:22 am

R&R,

...all the bad things I can say about the aura:

- It could use an XL size nasal seal. I think there are plans to add an XL and a Small.

- I have read that people with little hair have had trouble with the headgear shifting. My comparison of headgear would tell me that the aura headgear would be less likely to shift than many others though.

- It doesn't come with a fancy bag like the ResMed masks.

That's all I can come up with.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:22 am

It is not compatible with some APAP machines, such as the ResMed AutoSets. Check first.

Tom

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:39 pm

I used the Aura with the ResMed Autoset Spirit. I used the same mask setting as for the Swift - the "Mirage" setting. No problem.

As for any downsides to the Aura - I still love everything about it. But I do add some side straps of my own to the Aura (the ones that come with the Breeze) to make it absolutely stay still on me. I use the Large pillows interface.

I'm guessing that most men will need the Extra Large pillows for the Aura. Unfortunately, "Extra Large" are not available yet, according to what some posters who have contacted the Aeiomed company directly have said. Right now it comes only with Medium and Large. I believe it would work best for more people if it came with a Large and Extra Large pillows interface.

I cannot imagine that anyone except a child would need "small" pillows (also not available yet) for the Aura.

I really think all the pillows manufacturers goofed with their size labels. Most people probably think they need "medium" size pillows, but I believe the size Large would be best for most women and Extra Large for most men...in any pillows, not just the Aura's.

Just my two cents, as someone with average size woman's face, small nose, small nares and wearing the Large nasal pillows very comfortably.

heretolearn · Post by **heretolearn** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:02 pm

I'm with you RG! I have just tried on my new Aura and L-O-V-E the fit! I plan to use it tonight with my Spirit and suspect that it will work just as effective for me as my other masks! I also noted that Wader was sooooo right about the quality of the mask! I am very impressed! Can't wait to use it tonight and compare results to Swift/ Activa/ Ultra Mirage FF.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:39 pm

heretolearn, I will be anxiously awaiting your report. I have not tried it, just reporting what the sleep tech guy said. If it works for you, that will be two that say it's compatible.

Rested Gal, just curious, did you check your AHI results after using it? I'm still working on figuring out some issues with that.

Tom

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:46 pm

Tom,

My AHI is slightly better using the aura with the PB420E and the REMstar Auto w/ C-flex. I have yet to see any significant difference when using a norrow tube interface as compared to a standard tubed interface.

Not to speak for rested gal, but I'm sure she compared her AHI with all the machine/mask combinations.

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:45 pm

I concur with Rested Gal's opinion, that you can use the Arua with a Resmed machine. The Spirit definately needs to be set for the "Mirage" mask setting.

I actually had a friend from Resmed tell me that the swift works on the Mirage setting, and the Breeze will work on that setting as well. Even though the exhaust vent is just a little bit different between the Swift and the Breeze.

Your readout may be just a hair off, but it will work.

Since Rested Gal has most of the Autopap's on the market, she can do the number crunching for us.

Ted

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:25 pm

Ted,

Any info you could get from Aeiomed regarding when the XL nasal seal will be out would be very helpful.

NeurosurgeryNP · Post by **NeurosurgeryNP** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:31 pm

Just got my Aura today and I just tried it on - feels very comfortable. I will try it tonight for the first time. Amazing that nothing except the nasal seals touch your face.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 6:29 pm

hi Tom,

You asked:

just curious, did you check your AHI results after using it? I'm still working on figuring out some issues with that.

Yes, I checked my AHI in the panel on top of the Spirit each morning. My AHI is usually 1.x or 2.x with any of the 3 major autopaps and with any mask. It was my usual low AHI with the Spirit and Aura, Spirit and Breeze, Spirit and Swift, Spirit and Activa. I felt the same as usual each morning too - good. By the way, I do like being able to punch a few buttons to see the AHI displayed on top of the Spirit itself. Pretty neat to not have to fire up software just to quick check a few basics like that right in the machine window itself.

Ann N. · Post by **Ann N.** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:13 pm

I also got my Aura today overnight from CPAP.Com. I have been trying to get it fitted but have not be able to eliminate leaks using either the medium or large pillows. I am wondering if it is because my pressures are 17/13. Has anyone else been used the Aura with high pressures?

In the last couple of weeks I have purchased the Snapp, the Swift, and now the Aura. The Snapp didn't work out, the Swift was so-so, and now I just don't know if I can use the Aura. I like my Breeze but was still hoping for the "perfect" interface-- chasing the gold at the end of the rainbow I guess.
Ann

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:45 pm

Thanks for the info RG. Do you use a humidifier, and if so, do you use the same one with each machine?

Tom

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 11:28 pm

Yes, Tom, I use the heated humidifier that can be ordered with the machines. With the Spirit, it was the Humidaire 2i. Which, incidentally, I found put out the least amount of heat of any I've had. I had to turn the Humidaire 2i up to its top setting to get the same humidification results I get with others halfway up. I have the Aussie heated hose, too, so really the Humidaire 2i should have been able to provide more humidification than it does, imho. Or at least that particular one should have.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 6:28 am

(drum roll in background) Another vote for Aura! I slept with the Aura for the first time last night and I am here to tell you, it IS all that!!! Best way to describe the experience is to say it was like hosehead skinny dipping! The comfort of the headgear was by far the the best mask that I've experienced! (Activa, Swift, Breeze, Ultra Mirage and Ultra Mirage FF)
I honestly had to place my hand on the top of my head at one point to be sure it was still fitted! Absolutely nothing touching your face as the head band seems to circle the head right at the hairline. Only thing touching the face is the soft nasal piece at the nares. And because I wanted to see how this mask slept without a chin strap, I simply fashioned a u shaped chin-up strip to keep my jaw from dropping. It worked perfect! (Tonight, I'll try Aura with the Deluxe Chin Strap to compare.) The comfort of sleeping with the Aura was the best yet also! Believe Wader, RG and Titrator when they tell you that you can actually sleep face down and the fit and vent holes are undisturbed! I love that the Aura vents so much higher than any other mask I've tried because I have a habit of keeping covers and/or my hand up close on my face as I sleep. With the Aura, I don't have to worry about blocking the vent holes with this habit! The ease of use with the Aura also receives my highest ranking! On and off in a second with no refitting straps! Quality of product is another top score as the plastic used is not the brittle type plastic but more of the soft, rubber type. I see this product lasting through my toss n/ turn sleeping. Cleaning this morning was a cinch! Simply one turn of the nose piece and it slips right off the main assembly. There are no extra pieces to get lost! (Yes, I have already had to replace the clip on my Swift because I lost that little bugger down the disposal!) Even the cost of this new mask is a plus! (Close your eyes AEIOMed) At 99.00 , this Aura is going to be popular to say the least! I have already called the company and asked about the cpap unit! They are expecting FDA approval any day. After that and then another 45 days with test trials, the cpap will hit the market!
I asked about plans for an autopap and the rep said they are aiming for one by the end of this year! AEIOMed certainly has my attention!!! Now, if I could just hold of some stock!!!