Leak fix for mask--It's the harness!

[WxMan]

After a year and a half of constant effort, trial, and experimentation, I’ve finally found a solution that has largely solved mask leak issues for me. It’s a harness modification...not a mask one.

I offer a bit of history to see if it sounds familiar to any...for I suspect it will be those that might find the method of use.

I have mouth leakage so am resigned to a FF mask. I’ve been through several FF masks and the Quattro has definitely proved to be the best. However, although I can get the mask to seal when first going to bed, once I begin moving around while sleeping, the seal breaks several times a night wakening me. I also have had to use an excessive amount of pressure to maintain a seal and wear the mask somewhat lower on my face than its really designed for...essentially crushing it against the bottom of my chin. I’ve read with envy the suggestion from most that the mask be kept loose...I’ve tried and it won’t work...its obvious that the bone structure of my face does not match those who can use it in that manner.

The leaks invariably begin in the same place...on my cheek from about midway down the mask to the lower buckle attachment. I’ve tried everything I could think off and read about to reenforce the area. Macks ear plugs both outside and inside the mask, weatherstripping, foam, moleskin, and even took a caulking gun loaded with silicone to stiffen the cushion side...nothing worked.

I finally came to the discovery that the reason for the leakage problems was mask slippage. During the night, the mask slips very slightly downward...not really enough to be very noticeable, but enough to cause the problem. Just a slight upward pressure on the mask when it started leaking would invariably stop or reduce the leaks. If I could keep the mask from slipping downward, I felt I could solve the problem.

After several experiments, here’s the fix I came up with:

If you look at the back of the ResMed Quattro or Mirage harness, you will note an inverted triangle, I cut the strap at the middle of this upward leg of this triangle, overlapped them and lay a piece of velcro across them for support. The loose end I secured with another piece of velcro. This shortens the top leg of that triangle about 3 inches and places the top strap further up the head...essentially tightening the support at the top of the skull and providing more upward pressure to the mask. Although you may initially believe you can accomplish the same thing with top strap adjustment...you don’t. It’s the configuration at the back that’s necessary. I actually wear the top straps very loose with this modification. It also does allow adjustment at this point by the amount of overlap used.

It has made a huge difference in my mask leakage...I now use much less strap pressure than I did previously, wear the mask in the proper position at the nose bridge depression, and rarely wake up from leakage. Encore pro shows that occasional leaks still occur, but no where to the degree or amount as previously. Most nights I’m not even aware of them. For the first time and for most of the night I have a straight line trace...something I never though possible before.

Suspect this fix may work for some but not all...bone structure dependent. However, if you’re having problems, you might give it a try. You really don’t destroy the harness with it because you can pretty much restore it to original by butting the cut ends together and using velcro. Although I haven’t tried, I suspect that it may work on other mask/harness combinations as well.

If a picture would help, I’ll take a shot a posting one.

[Flying_Norseman]

That's very interesting and I am sure a picture would help greatly.

[Johnny1959]

Yes, please post pics for us.

Would be wonderful to see some pics of your leaks lines to show us how this fix has worked for you.

Alot of us are struggling with the leak issue.

Take care.

[WxMan]

Okay...per your request...here goes. First attempt at posting pictures so hope it works.

This is the modified harness....note the top portion of the strap has been cut in two...the two overlapped (left portion pulled over the right and secured with a velcro strip...offset it slightly so it could be seen). The loose portion at the rear has been secured by another wrap of velcro.



Here's a comparison between the modified harness and an original (actually set up for an Ultra Mirage). I did the experimentation on an older harness and had removed the label to allow for more adjustment of the bottom straps. Note the change in angle of top staps after modification...that difference in bottom strap pressure between the two is real, that's how much less pressure I use on the straps . I'm currently using this older harness...when it goes the newer ones will get the same treatment.

[WxMan]

Well that didn't go as planned. Obviously I need to do some homework on picture posting...or if someone can give me a quick tip, I'll correct it. Thought I could just do a highlight of the link and it would post it as an image.

Link still works though, just remove the (img) from it.

[Johnny1959]

WxMan, with your headgear fix, have you eliminated the need for mack's ear plug silicone or anything else pertaining to your mask to ensure elimination of leaks.

Your pics are great.

Could you post pics of your leak line from your software, we would love to see the difference you headgear fix has made.

Take Care

[DreamStalker]

Okay...per your request...here goes. First attempt at posting pictures so hope it works.

This is the modified harness....note the top portion of the strap has been cut in two...the two overlapped (left portion pulled over the right and secured with a velcro strip...offset it slightly so it could be seen). The loose portion at the rear has been secured by another wrap of velcro.



Here's a comparison between the modified harness and an original (actually set up for an Ultra Mirage). I did the experimentation on an older harness and had removed the label to allow for more adjustment of the bottom straps. Note the change in angle of top staps after modification...that difference in bottom strap pressure between the two is real, that's how much less pressure I use on the straps . I'm currently using this older harness...when it goes the newer ones will get the same treatment.

May be a permissions thing dunno?

Readers can just use the link however to see them

http://picasaweb.google.com/vel1967/Harness/

[WxMan]

Johnny...

I now made no modification to the mask whatsoever...the modified harness solved the entire issue and works much better because it is essentially a permanent fix.

Mack's seemed to help a bit for me but not all that well...still had plenty of leaks after an hour or two of sleep. As mentioned, I was always able to get a seal initially when going to bed...required some adjustment of straps, mask postion, and nose piece but I could always do it. Problem was in maintaining that seal after falling asleep. Mack's didn't help much there because as I've now found, the issue was primarily one of mask slippage. For me, Macks worked best by placing them between the inner and outer seal of the mask...not by sticking them on the outside as most do.

[WxMan]

Thanks dreamstalker...yours is the easy fix so will just leave it in link status.

Suspect the most likely problem is a password issue with google.

[WxMan]

WxMan, with your headgear fix, have you eliminated the need for mack's ear plug silicone or anything else pertaining to your mask to ensure elimination of leaks.

Your pics are great.

Could you post pics of your leak line from your software, we would love to see the difference you headgear fix has made.

Take Care

Just noted your request for more pics. I'm a bit handicapped with the current hosting site in providing actual posts so will post the link for you.

http://picasaweb.google.com/vel1967/Mod ... eakDetails

The pre modification picture (the first) is the last day before I tried the various harness modifications. It represent silicone ear plugs and silicone caulk on the mask and is an improvement over most of the previous. The next two pictures represent the past two days with the modified harness.

Note: I am a shallow breather, get false apnea/hypopnea events while awake, and frequently have difficulty getting to sleep. Thats true during the first 1.5 hrs of the 13th...note the break in the data at the 1.5 mark...I briefly took off the mask and took a sleeping med. Also, on the 14th...note the leak between 5 and 6 hours and the break in the data. I was awake during that time period, removed the mask three times, and and used the ramp to settle down to get back to sleep. Point being, the leak didn't wake me. I created it when I took the mask off and had difficulty resealing it due to mask condensation with the humidifier.

Of importance is the relatively straight leak line while asleep and the amount of time the APAP was used. Note, I've certainly seen far more impressive leak rate traces from others...but for me those are outstanding. In the past, mask pressure and associated discomfort made it difficult to keep the mask on on for more than 6 hours or so.

The reason the APAP has 10 for a maxium is because, in the past, leaks have noticeably increased above that level with associated pressure runaway and the appearance of NRs. Now that leaks are more controlled, I'm in a position to do more with pressure adjustment.

[Johnny1959]

WxMan, Thanks for posting pics. Obviously your on to something here.

You'll eventually be able to tweak some more with your pressure to reduce OAI, HI, AHI numbers.

I think I'll try the headgear fix this weekend.

Take Care

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI

[WxMan]

Johnny...or anyone else interested in trying this.

You can get a good idea of how helpful this modification will work for you without ever reaching for the scissors. I was pretty confident that it would work before I made the cut.

If you're having trouble keeping the mask from leaking...or next time you wake up in the night with a leak, try this. Reach around to the back of the mask and pinch a good amount of material out of the section of the strap to be cut...shortening it by a good amount. See what it does to the leak. If it helps...time for the scissors.

You don't need a leak to see how it will change the pressure on the mask...try pinching the stap as in the above and you should find an increased upward and backward pull.

Another great almost straight line leak graph last night with an absolutely perfect straight line trace for over 4 hours...after which I managed to pull the hose off to make for a major leak (a trick I somehow manage on a monthly basis) . Otherwise, only two minor leaks in nearly 9 hours of use that weren't enough to wake me. I feel I'm now paying off the sleep debt I should have been doing 18 months ago.

If you go for it...hope your results are as positive as mine.