Exhalation Port

Which type exhalation port is least likely to be blocked by pillow? The one I am using now has an opening on each side of tube at the elbow and I think it gets blocked sometimes. Thanks

beachbum wrote:Which type exhalation port is least likely to be blocked by pillow? The one I am using now has an opening on each side of tube at the elbow and I think it gets blocked sometimes. Thanks

I haven't see one that can't be completely blocked by the pillow (a soft, fluffy one like my dawn pillow), which is why I make my own modifications: a piece of clear Vinyl tubing, cut longitudinally in half and taped on top of the vent, with the bottom closed off, diffusing and routing air up above and by your head. This also solves the problem of blowing air around your face or hands, and into the face of your bed-partner.

McSleepy

beachbum wrote: I think it gets blocked sometimes.

I wonder if there is anyway in SleepyHead to see if the exhaust rate sometimes falls below the acceptable rate?

It would not be good for beachbum to jump through hoops to solve a problem that does not exist.

ChicagoGranny wrote:

beachbum wrote: I think it gets blocked sometimes.

I wonder if there is anyway in SleepyHead to see if the exhaust rate sometimes falls below the acceptable rate?

It would not be good for beachbum to jump through hoops to solve a problem that does not exist.

you'd have to figure what the vent rate is for the pressure (chart in the back of the mask manual) and then check the total leak chart.

shouldn't be an issue.

ChicagoGranny wrote:

beachbum wrote: I think it gets blocked sometimes.

I wonder if there is anyway in SleepyHead to see if the exhaust rate sometimes falls below the acceptable rate?

It would not be good for beachbum to jump through hoops to solve a problem that does not exist.

ResMed throws away the total leak data, and only reports the estimated unintentional leak rate, so you can't get that on ResMed. If you block the exhaust vent, the unintentional leak rate is clipped at zero and looks normal.

With an Elite or above PRS1, you can tell because the total leak rate will drop below the minimum for the mask. It's usually pretty clear on the graphs because it drops below the "baseline" without a change in pressure.

archangle wrote:

ChicagoGranny wrote:

beachbum wrote: I think it gets blocked sometimes.

I wonder if there is anyway in SleepyHead to see if the exhaust rate sometimes falls below the acceptable rate?

It would not be good for beachbum to jump through hoops to solve a problem that does not exist.

ResMed throws away the total leak data, and only reports the estimated unintentional leak rate, so you can't get that on ResMed. If you block the exhaust vent, the unintentional leak rate is clipped at zero and looks normal.

With an Elite or above PRS1, you can tell because the total leak rate will drop below the minimum for the mask. It's usually pretty clear on the graphs because it drops below the "baseline" without a change in pressure.

blah blah blah, more mindless face flapping.

OP has a respironics machine.

beachbum wrote:Which type exhalation port is least likely to be blocked by pillow? The one I am using now has an opening on each side of tube at the elbow and I think it gets blocked sometimes. Thanks

Get a firmer pillow...you will not sink in and block the holes. Firm foam or buckwheat.

LSAT wrote:Get a firmer pillow...you will not sink in and block the holes. Firm foam or buckwheat.

So again, the question,

beachbum wrote:Which type exhalation port is least likely to be blocked by pillow?

needs to be turned around,

Which type pillow is least likely to block the exhaust port?

Good job LSAT!