Breeze fitting tips please

jacko · Post by **jacko** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:49 am

G'Day All
I have just got my Breeze mask back from a mate I lent it to
I gave up on it ,but would now like to give it another go
I have done a search but cant find any of the fitting tips
Can anyone help me out and point me in the right direction
Thanks regards Jacko

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 3:55 am

LINKS to Breeze nasal pillows / nasal mask topics

Also, do a search for Breeze with author's name: ozij

I think I remember ozij posting a very good description of all the adjustment areas on the Breeze. I'm sure her post is in that long list of topics, but not sure which one.

jacko · Post by **jacko** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 4:24 am

Thanks RG
I knew you would be the one ,what would we do without ya
all the best Jacko

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:33 am

I started using the Breeze shortly after it came out and have had about 8 different ones. They constantly make changes to them.
I have been a big advocate of the mask and often posted that adjusting it was a bit of an art than not everyone has.
I have repaired my many breaks with a soldering iron until I needed a new one. They eventually lose their snugness- may be that I needed new pillows.

The last version and I posted this recently has me stumped.
The straps have a sliding attachment that constantly detaches and fall off.
I remedied this by taking it and rigging it to the TOP of the assembly - just under the hose. This solved the falling off problem, but I cannot get it to not be too tight.
I can just imagine a newbie trying this model for the first time.
I am thinking of going back to an earlier model- I have several that would work with the new pillows and see if I can make it work.
I am still open to ideas and consider myself very technical and innovative in such matters.
In looking at my data, I find I am still having leaks about 3-4 AM and cannot understand this since the fit is so snug.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:12 am

I wrote this back in Aug 2005. Hope it helps.

I'd suggest starting at the back of the Breeze. First, remove the pillows from the plastic plenum -they pull out easily if you squeeze them gently and pull. Loosen the set-screw and angle the plastic plenum away from your face. GENTLY re-tighten the set-screw. Remove the straps or, leave them connected but very loose.

Position the outrigger pad against the part of the back of your head where it feels most comfortable. If you have a bump on the back of your head, see if the pad is more comfortable on the bump or below the bump. Lay down on your back with the outrigger pad is this position and check to see if it is still comfortable, then start making adjustments to the slider between the outrigger and the pad that sits on the top of your head (don't worry about the rest of the Breeze yet). Bear in mind that it will take some time to get used to the feel of this pad on the back of your head. It will be annoying at first but you are likely to get used to it over time.

This top-of-the-head pad is the one that has a 'wing' off each side that have a slot for the straps to go through. This pad should sit in a position on your head where it causes no discomfort and is far enough forward to create some tension between it and the outrigger pad. The tension between these two pads should be enough to hold the Breeze in place (ie., Breeze does not go flying off into orbit when you let go of it) while you are laying on your back. Carefully remove the Breeze, making sure that the outrigger does not move out of position on the slider and put a bit of tape on the slider where it meets the outrigger so that the outrigger will stay in position. You don't want the outrigger to change position along the slider as you take the Breeze on and off.

If you removed them, reattach the straps from the outrigger pad to the top-of-the head pad. Put the Breeze back on and adjust the straps so that they are just snug enough to give stability but not so snug that your head feels like it is in a vice. Check to make sure that the straps are of equal tightness so that the Breeze is not being bent to the left or right.

Take the Breeze off again and insert the pillows into the plastic plenum making sure that only one cuff on each pillow is inserted. A properly inserted pillow shows two round, donut-like cuffs with a volcano-like opening outside the plenum and one round donut-like cuff in the plenum. The two cuffs outside the hard plastic plenum give the bellows action to the pillow. Rotate the pillows so that the slightly oval shape of the openings lines up with the oval shape / orientation of your nares.

Now start adjusting the front slider (slider between the nose plenum and the top-of-the-head pad.) As you are adjusting this up and down, loosen the set-screw that lets you adjust the angle of the plenum. You want the angle to be such that the base of the volcano-like opening forms a seal all the way around the opening of each nare. Continuing adjusting the angle and up/down along the slider so that the pillows are essentially flat against the opening of the nares and the height is not so high (tight against nares) that you feel as though your nose is being yanked upwards. AGAIN, DO THIS WHILE LYING DOWN ON YOUR BACK.

Once it seems comfortable, tighten the set-screw then carefully sit up and remove the Breeze. Put tape on the slider between the plenum and top-of-the-head pad so that this slider no longer moves.

That should be it. Try it out by attaching your PAP machine, turning on the juice and rolling around some in bed. If the Breeze is not stable, you may have to disconnect the straps from the top-of-the-head pad and reattach them to the small plastic slider that moves along the plastic hose guide between the plenum and top-of-the-head pad. This little slider has a slot on each side for the straps to be inserted. Don't remove the tape that is holding the front slider where it enters the top-of-the-head pad; just play with the position of the little plastic slider that has the openings for the straps.

Lay down again, turn on the juice and roll around some more. Make minor adjustments as needed.

Hope this helps!

cg30sailor · Post by **cg30sailor** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:07 am

I have used several of the nasal masks,so far I have found this to be a real good one.
What I usually do is try to adjust the part on the rear of your head while laying down on the pillow. this makes for the fit you will be comfortable with laying on your back.
roll over on your side and adjust the thingermerbobber that holds the pillows in so it is just right. this is what I do and sometimes just handling it and taking it apart to clean it, you repeat this and get accustomed to readjusting frequently.
Hope this helps...and good luck mate.

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:36 am

Willsucceed-
your link is excellent fot the model at the time.
What I am talking about is the latest- or at least the model I have- is that the straps are attached at one ent to a clip assembly that SLIDES along the underside ot the hose guide.
There are indentions in this area and the entire clip assembly slips out and falls down. You have to carefully align the clipw with the indentions and slide it back on. Then it comes off about every thirs time you remove the mask and sometimes while wearing it.

I took mine off and placed it on the upper side of the hose guide, but I cannot get the proper tension on the straps.

back to the drawing board.
Not sure how many people have this model.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:06 pm

tomjax wrote:Willsucceed-
your link is excellent fot the model at the time.
What I am talking about is the latest- or at least the model I have- is that the straps are attached at one ent to a clip assembly that SLIDES along the underside ot the hose guide.

WillSucceed was describing the same "new improved" model that you have, Tom... wasn't he? The one that has the sliding clip along front of hose guide:

WillSucceed wrote:If the Breeze is not stable, you may have to disconnect the straps from the top-of-the-head pad and reattach them to the small plastic slider that moves along the plastic hose guide between the plenum and top-of-the-head pad. This little slider has a slot on each side for the straps to be inserted. Don't remove the tape that is holding the front slider where it enters the top-of-the-head pad; just play with the position of the little plastic slider that has the openings for the straps.

(red color emphasis added by me)

Thanks for the detailed description of "fitting" a Breeze, WillSucceed. Very helpful!

Tom, I hope you get yours fixed to suit you. I know how you've loved your previous Breezes. I very much liked the one I used for about a year. Good interface.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:48 pm

Rested Gal, thanks for the clarification. You are correct in that I was referring to the "new" Breeze.

Tom:
For what it is worth, I have found that clip to be the stupidest addition they could have made. I was never able to get it to stay in place -kept slipping off, just as you described. I even tried getting it to stay in place with contact cement. What a pain... I gave up on it.

I hope you have better success than I did with it.

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