Mirage SoftGel Design Defect?

For all the ResMed Mirage Soft Gel nasal mask users out there I was wondering about a possible design flaw -- I switched over to the Soft Gel last night and woke up to crazy, unusually loud noise from the vent -- which is usually very very quiet. Plus there was air blowing downward over my upper lip. So I think great there is a leak in the elbow joint for the hose....

But in reality, the air was coming out the very bottom edge of the cushion. When I pushed the mask into the pillow the noise and leak ceased.

When I looked at the mask in the morning I noticed that the plastic clip inside the gel cushion is secured by a lip running all around the cushion, except at the very bottom. That section for some odd reason is left completely open. The Activa cushion for this mask frame does not have such a gap. So the only way to stop the leak from the gap on the Soft Gel is to really tighten the bottom straps which is uncomfortable/painful under the nose.

Did I just get a defective cushion or have other people experienced this leak problem?

Thanks!

I had this same problem on occasion I switched to true blue and have no problem .

I am using this nasal mask for almost two years with fantastic treatment results. If the three cushion's black latches snap all the way into the cushion plastic frame, then there is no leak except thru the intentional vent holes. The slit that you see on the bottom side of the mask between the silicone and the cushion frame suppose to be there. It seals on its own from the pressure inside the mask. You can test it by holding the mask against your nose and closing the vent holes and the inlet air supply with your fingers. Then by inflating air into it with your nose you can realize the tightness if you blow in or suck out.

hyperlexis wrote:
But in reality, the air was coming out the very bottom edge of the cushion. When I pushed the mask into the pillow the noise and leak ceased.

That happens when you do not push the rear / bottom clip in completely.
You pushing the mask into the pillow probably did that for you.
When that clip is not totally engaged it leaves a minute crack between the cushion & the mask from which the air can escape.

When you clip on the cushion, one has a tendency to just push down on the 2 side clips. The 3rd clip will also usually engage when you do that. But some times, it requires that you seperately engage that 3rd clip.

It has happened to me often enough that after I get the cushion on the mask, I go around & push down on each of the 3 clips. Sometimes that 3rd clip has not yet engaged fully.

I have been using the ResMed SoftGel Nasal Mask for about 1 1/2 years when I switched over to it from the Respironics ComfortGel Nasal Mask (the older version & not the Blue nor its replacement) when I got my ResMed S9 AutoSet.

I think that the ResMed seals much better than the Respironics primarily because its 2 cushions are all 1 solid piece whereas the Respironics has 2 separate cushions to accomplish the same thing.

Resmed's (and a few others) masks, including this mask, use an advanced technology of the double flaps on their cushions, whereby the outer flap overlap the inner layer. Any leak inside the inner layer needs to travel between these flaps to reach the atmospheric pressure. The more the flaps, the better the sealing b/c each flap reduces the pressures gradient, to a certain degree.

Here is a sketch showing the principal behind this technique in a Labyrinth seal used to seal rotating shafts:

StuUnderPressure wrote:

hyperlexis wrote:
But in reality, the air was coming out the very bottom edge of the cushion. When I pushed the mask into the pillow the noise and leak ceased.

That happens when you do not push the rear / bottom clip in completely.
You pushing the mask into the pillow probably did that for you.
When that clip is not totally engaged it leaves a minute crack between the cushion & the mask from which the air can escape.

When you clip on the cushion, one has a tendency to just push down on the 2 side clips. The 3rd clip will also usually engage when you do that. But some times, it requires that you seperately engage that 3rd clip.

It has happened to me often enough that after I get the cushion on the mask, I go around & push down on each of the 3 clips. Sometimes that 3rd clip has not yet engaged fully.

I have been using the ResMed SoftGel Nasal Mask for about 1 1/2 years when I switched over to it from the Respironics ComfortGel Nasal Mask (the older version & not the Blue nor its replacement) when I got my ResMed S9 AutoSet.

I think that the ResMed seals much better than the Respironics primarily because its 2 cushions are all 1 solid piece whereas the Respironics has 2 separate cushions to accomplish the same thing.

I will try this again, tonite, thanks, and will try to get the clips in as tight as possible. I thought the bottom clip was definitely engaged, and double checked, and will try again. However, sure enough, even with the clips snapped in, the lower part of the gel cushion, where that built-in gap is, is pretty loose -- you could literally pull it away from the mask frame at the bottom because there is no internal clip 'lip' holding it in tight in that spot, like on the other three sides. That is the area where the air was escaping, from that loose area at the bottom center of the cushion that was made without any lip for the cushion clip to hook into. Very very peculiar omission. Makes no sense to me, especially when the Activa cushion clip has a lip running on all three sides.

I'll definitely try this again and see what's happening.

I will be interested to hear how it goes for you. I used the softgel, and now use the activa. I will take a look at my softgel cushion when I get home, assuming I remember!

I have read somewhere that the slit at the bottom of the Softgel cushion clip is for drainage. If it's correct it would solve the mystery of my wetting the front of my T shirts. There are nights that I need to change 4 T shirts even if the humidifier is set at only #4. My borderline type 2 Diabetes could also contribute to it.

hyperlexis wrote:However, sure enough, even with the clips snapped in, the lower part of the gel cushion, where that built-in gap is, is pretty loose -- you could literally pull it away from the mask frame at the bottom because there is no internal clip 'lip' holding it in tight in that spot, like on the other three sides. That is the area where the air was escaping, from that loose area at the bottom center of the cushion that was made without any lip for the cushion clip to hook into. Very very peculiar omission. Makes no sense to me, especially when the Activa cushion clip has a lip running on all three sides.

It is a weird design, but I have never had any air leaking out from that area of the cushion - as long as that 3rd clip is totally engaged.

You can hear a distinct "click" as each clip engages.
If you hear that "click" for that 3rd clip, that holds the cushion down tight enough to keep all leaks from happenning from that area.
If you were getting leaks from that area, I am pretty sure it was because the 3rd clip was not all the way in.

I have the same problem and I think it is a design flaw, if the bottom had a inside hinge/cover like the rest of mask this wouldn't happen. Really like this mask but will have to find another because my nightly scores show a constant leak.

Sorry, friend, it has been established there was a user error.
If a new mask, pay particular attention to cushion seating and attachment to the frame.
If an old mask, consider replacing. They do not last forever--usually.

Parman1031 wrote:I have the same problem and I think it is a design flaw, if the bottom had a inside hinge/cover like the rest of mask this wouldn't happen. Really like this mask but will have to find another because my nightly scores show a constant leak.

Maybe it's manufactured by Microsoft, their design flaws and advertised as Features. Jim