UPDATE: Respironics FullLife Mask - Release on July 20

[timbalionguy]

This maks looks interesting to me because of the very low lower straps. The biggest problem with my otherwise excellent hybrid mask is the lack of something pulling it directly onto my face. I find that higher pressure pulling on the angled straps on the hybrid tend to unseat it a little bit. Usually not a serious problem, but sometimes annoying when I am near the high end of my pressure range.

[Muse-Inc]

This maks looks interesting to me because of the very low lower straps. The biggest problem with my otherwise excellent hybrid mask is the lack of something pulling it directly onto my face. I find that higher pressure pulling on the angled straps on the hybrid tend to unseat it a little bit. Usually not a serious problem, but sometimes annoying when I am near the high end of my pressure range.

Sounds like the heargear needs to be slightly different for your head-face. In my case, the Velcro is overlapping...thinking of making my own heagear using theirs as a model. Sure wish we could order these sorts of headgear adjustments.

[Arizona-Willie]

Mine came late Thursday evening so I waited and washed it all up yesterday and gave it the first test last night.

The mask is EXTREMELY thick ( from the back of the hose swivel to the face edge of the cushion is approz 4 3/8" ) but is very well made and an engineering marvel.

Basically the only hard plastic is a flatish plate and the rubberoid mask material snaps around the edges of that. The swivel for the hose, of course, is contained on that plate.
It came in a plastic bag that had a sizing guide on it. Nice, once you've bought the mask ... then you get a sizing guide.

However, I ordered the medium because I was using a medium Quattro and it seems to be fine sizewise.

I'm happy to report that the chin strap does a fine job and I had ZERO ride up issues with it last night.

I'm happy to report that the chin strap does a fine job and I had ZERO ride up issues with it last night.

I'm happy to report that the chin strap does a fine job and I had ZERO ride up issues with it last night.

Can you tell I'm happy about that?

My AHI was almost identical with the Quattro.
But that varies a lot from night to night and it wasn't a reason for buying the mask.

My nose was just slightly tender this morning, but lower than where the Quattro hits. I didn't use any moleskin last night but I will try it tonight.
There is no hard plastic in position to put pressure on your nose, just the rubberoid material which of course compresses when you adjust the mask for leaks.
I can't see it when it's on but the material may fold up a bit.
But, anytime you have something in contact with your skin under enough pressure to keep air under pressure from leaking ... over time it's likely to bother you.
The nose is vulnerable because the bone is right at the surface behind the skin with no fat for padding. The cheeks and chin have no problem, usually, because the material can sorta push into the skin and make it's seal but making a seal over the nose is always problematic. There was far far less pressure and irritation with the FullLife than with the Quattro. And it fits a bit lower. My nose may toughen up over time there but in the meantime I'm going to try a double layer of moleskin plus and see how that works out.

Leak rate was perfect for 97% of the night. One brief leak of 30 L/min for a few seconds and a few of 7.5 L/min for brief periods. However the literature that comes with the mask says it can handle up to 60 L/min as I understood it. There is a chart that shows an intentional leak rate( at my pressure ) of almost 20 slpm ... what is an slpm? LPM would be liter per minute but I don't understand the slpm. But according to Rescan I didn't even have the intentional leak rate most of the time.

Anyway, the leak rate was being measured by my Resmed S8 Elite not a Respironics machine so I don't know how that compares. The Rescan leak chart showed the leak pretty much perfect ( zero ) for almost the whole night with a few smallish leaks that wouldn't amount to anything significant.

The straps may be a matter of concern, I dunno. They are rather narrow and not very thick.

Pulling the top straps over your head to put the mask on and remove it works fine. Didn't have to stretch the straps very much but nevertheless I would thinks constant stretching would lead to frequent replacements. Which is another point. The straps have what they refer to as stops on them which are actually wide places too big to go through the slots. How they got the strap IN the slot is a good question. I suspect if enough pressure is applied the strap stop will come through that slot --- OR ELSE.

I was concerned the lower strap would irritate my neck ( it bothered me a bit during a nap test ) but I had no problem with it last night. Might need some sort of Pad-A-Cheek invention to cover that strap, dunno.

Adjusting was not too much of a problem. Anyone used to adjusting a Quattro or Mirage would likely not have any problem.
The instructions actually seem to be a pretty good guide.

One disappointment ( minor ) was that there was no CD with video only a pamplet for instructions.

The cushion is easy to wash and only one piece. Since the face plate has the straps pretty well attached I just wiped it off with a paper towel.
There are no oxygen ports.

The exhalation ports may be a concern. They seem to angle the air about 30 degrees or so in a fan shape and it's seems to be pretty much straight out. Which may bother a bed mate.
My owner is gone helping her mother so I can't report on that yet.

However there was no problem with them getting blocked when side sleeping which I do almost exclusively.

Overall, first night impressions ( which often change over time ) was very positive.

I'm happy to report that the chin strap does a fine job and I had ZERO ride up issues with it last night.
I'm happy to report that the chin strap does a fine job and I had ZERO ride up issues with it last night.

[jdm2857]

So, how did you find the chin strap?

You have to remember that your ResMed subtracts the intentional leak for the mask setting mask from the total flow and displays only the true leak. So if the intentional leak for the FullLife is less than the intentional leak for the Quattro (assuming that is what your machine is set for) you may be getting a leak number that is better than reality.

Good to hear that the first night went well.

Sounds like PadACheek has to fire up her sewing machine.

[socalmonkey]

The exhalation ports may be a concern. They seem to angle the air about 30 degrees or so in a fan shape and it's seems to be pretty much straight out. Which may bother a bed mate.
.

How about the sound coming from the exhallation port? How quiet is this mask?

[Pad A Cheek]

Well I am in the process of requesting a sample of this mask in order to design a new PAD A CHEEK Product.
Give me a little while and I will be ready to help with any issues you may have with this mask straps.
The nose bridge problem, may require a bit of thinking yet.

Karen

[Arizona-Willie]

The nose bridge is much much better than with the Quattro ... but anything pressing on the nose bridge hard enough to seal against air under pressure trying to get out is going to cause tenderness --- at the least. The higher the air pressure, the more pressure required to contain it.

With this mask there is no forehead piece to hang any padding from. The only possible way I can see to deal with any pressure issues is by applying something on the nose bridge. With this mask the material pressing on the nose bridge is relatively soft but still has to press hard enough to contain the air pressure. It wasn't as much of a problem last night as the Quattro pesents though. I will get a better idea after a few nights. First impressions often change.

[DoriC]

Mine came late Thursday evening so I waited and washed it all up yesterday and gave it the first test last night.


Pulling the top straps over your head to put the mask on and remove it works fine. Didn't have to stretch the straps very much but nevertheless I would thinks constant stretching would lead to frequent replacements.

Great report AW, this is the part that interests me so my husband can put his mask on himself as he can't manage the clips himself. Of course, stretching out over time might be a problem. Looking forward to more updates, although it would be very hard to give up his UMFF. I keep thinking, "if it ain't broke, why fix it", but then again "the grass is always greener on the other side"! Such a dilemna.

[socalmonkey]

Today I got the following reply from Respironics regarding the availability of this mask:

Dear Mr. xxxxxxx,

Thank you for your inquiry. When a new mask is released it is available for all DME companies to purchase. Unfortunately, with some of the larger companies it takes a little longer for them to add into there system.
This mask will be available through your Apria provider soon.
The release to the internet does not slow this process for availability.
We apologize for your inconvenience.

Thank you,
Philips Respironics HHS
800-345-6443

On Friday, Apria's corporate office sent the following:

Good Day Mr. xxxxxx,

Thank you for contacting Apria for your health care needs. Your Communication reached Apria's Physician and Patient Relations Department, at Apria's corporate office in Southern California. We have forwarded your request to the manager of your servicing branch to follow up on the issue. If you need further assistance, feel free to reply or call at 1800-260-8808.

Thank you,
David


_________________________________________________________________


David Padilla
Physician & Patient Relations
Apria Healthcare Corporate-Lake Forest CA
Phone: (949) 639-4106
Fax: (949) 462-8155
http://www.Apria.com

So the pursuit of the mask from Apria.... lives on!

[2ndGenCPAPgal]

Today I got the following reply from Respironics regarding the availability of this mask:

Dear Mr. xxxxxxx,

Thank you for your inquiry. When a new mask is released it is available for all DME companies to purchase. Unfortunately, with some of the larger companies it takes a little longer for them to add into there system.
...

Hmm, I find this interesting since my DME is telling me that their Respironics rep is the one telling them that even they don't know when it will be available. I think I might drop Respironics an email myself.

[socalmonkey]

The latest in an email from Apria, after talking to them again on the phone this morning.

They still have it wrong!

I spoke with Respironics to figure out what the Model number you gave me goes too. They explained that the New Full Fit is a brand new full face mask just released on Friday 7/31. I will be getting a couple of Demo releases this week. I can let you know when I get them The Full Fit is not in the Apria Inventory yet and will not be for a couple of weeks. I am working with the Respironics Rep directly.

Thanks

I emailed them the brochure and the exact model number of the FullLife Fitpack #1047919

They are getting "Fitpack" - "FullLife" - "FitLife" all mixed up!!

The FitLife is a completely different mask that covers the full face - including the eyes! That's not the mask!

As usually, Apria is really making me mad!

[rws]

Arizona, how do the straps feel from mask across cheek, to the back of head? I'm wondering how comfortable it is as they look to run fairly close to the eyes?

Rick

[Arizona-Willie]

rws ... the straps at the side of the head have been no problem at all. Don't even notice them.

For the person who asked about the sound of the exhalation ports.... they seem to be silent. I don't hear anything from them and my owner didn't complain and her hearing is so sharp she can hear a mouse fart next door.

We do have an air purifier running in the bedroom 24 / 7 and it makes a white noise and there is a bit of white noise from the blower too so we are used to that. I haven't heard anything above that white noise. So I would not expect any problems related to sound from the exhaust ports.

DoriC ... if he has problems with the clips on Resmed masks I wouldn't recommend this one because it does take some manual dexterity to adjust the straps. Getting ahold of the tabs and pulling the velcro loose and adjusting it requires a bit of use of the fingers so I would say you might want to stay with what is working.

After 4 nights ... so far .... so good.

I have discovered that, on me, it seems to work better if the hose is in a downward or sidewise direction instead of up over my head. That seems to put extra pressure at the top of the mask and smoosh it and causes it to spread out a bit. Not a major problem but it seems better if I can keep the hose down ... which is difficult because with my Quattro and other masks I always had the hose going up.

[thecpapreview]

Hey everyone!

I just started a blog where I will be reviewing new CPAP masks that hit the market. I just posted my first product review, which is for the new FullLife CPAP mask.

Here is the link -> http : // thecpapreview . blogspot . com

(sorry for putting the spaces in the link, cpaptalk won't let me post a link directly).

This mask is AWESOME. I took a bunch of pictures and posted a couple of videos of myself demonstrating some of the great features.

Let me know what you think of my review! Hopefully if you all like it, I can keep doing them as new masks come out!

Thanks

[Eric_M]

Hey everyone!

I just started a blog where I will be reviewing new CPAP masks that hit the market. I just posted my first product review, which is for the new FullLife CPAP mask.

Here is the link -> http : // thecpapreview . blogspot . com

(sorry for putting the spaces in the link, cpaptalk won't let me post a link directly).

This mask is AWESOME. I took a bunch of pictures and posted a couple of videos of myself demonstrating some of the great features.

Let me know what you think of my review! Hopefully if you all like it, I can keep doing them as new masks come out!

Thanks

Nice review... keep us informed on how this mask turns out over the next few weeks. you couldnt send me the measurements of the medium plastic sizing "thingy" could ya? Thanks again.. good work