Mask cleaning question

[Zaiforce]

Hi there,

Just a quick question, I change the humidifier water and clean the mask of my mother's BiPAP machine every day by wiping it down with ResMed CPAP mask wipes and whilst doing so I wear disposable gloves to be extra hygienic (perhaps a bit of overkill wearing gloves, I know lol).

The gloves I have been using are powder free & latex free, but I can no longer source them and the only option I have now are powder free gloves that are made from latex.

I have heard that latex gloves can cause adverse reactions in some environments (mainly to the skin), so I just want to make sure they are safe to use when handling the humidifier water tray and BiPAP mask, is it possible that the latex could cause any kind of reaction with the rubber seal etc. of the mask or plastic of the water tray and damage them?

The mask she is using is the Fisher & Paykel Evora full face mask if that helps, her machine is a Philips Dreamstation BiPAP AVAPS.

Thank you for any assistance .

[zonker]

Hi there,

Just a quick question, I change the humidifier water and clean the mask of my mother's BiPAP machine every day by wiping it down with ResMed CPAP mask wipes and whilst doing so I wear disposable gloves to be extra hygienic (perhaps a bit of overkill wearing gloves, I know lol).

personally, i think that's overkill with the gloves. but after being on this forum for 8 plus years, i'm coming around to the notion that each of us is going to clean however we want. "to each his own, said the old lady as she kissed the cow."

do want to mention that baby wipes will do the trick and will save some money.

good luck!

[robbob2112]

Baby wipes and cpap wipes are not the same thing. Cpap wipes have much stronger chemicals on them. If you search there is a video out there that does a lab test to prove it.

Anyways, you can get a years supply of generic cpap wipes for about $25 or less, so how much to you need to save?

For cleanliness you just need to wash your hands unless she has something catchy?

[ozij]

Why do you prefer powder-free gloves?
Are you using gloves to protect your mum or to protect yourself?
Do you dispose of the gloves after each use?
If it's your mom you're protecting, keep in mind that normal, disposable household gloves are not sterile, and are no cleaner that your own well washed and well wiped hands. Doctors used to be very careful about washing their hands between patients before disposable gloves were so common - and after covid we all know the handwashing technique they were taught.

There are even sterile surgical gloves made of latex - they are avoided when a patient has an allergy to latex, but they wouldn't even make them if they "reacted" with any kind of instrument.

Bottom line: I see no need for you to worry about the possibility that the latex in the gloves you use will harm the equipment it touches.

[Zaiforce]

Thank you everyone for the replies

Why do you prefer powder-free gloves?
Are you using gloves to protect your mum or to protect yourself?
Do you dispose of the gloves after each use?

I just use the powder free ones as I thought the powder may get into the water when changing the water in the humidifier tray.

I use the gloves to protect mum, I mainly use them as it says in the mask care instructions not to use scented soaps on the mask, however the only soap I have to wash my hands with is scented, so I wash my hands with that soap and then put on the gloves so that no soap residue gets on the mask.

I dispose of the gloves after each use and use new ones each day.

Bottom line: I see no need for you to worry about the possibility that the latex in the gloves you use will harm the equipment it touches.

Thank you, I wasn't really aware of why some people were saying to avoid latex gloves, but if they can cause skin irritations that makes sense. I was worried the latex may cause an adverse reaction or damage to the equipment.

[Grumpy48]

"The mask she is using is the Fisher & Paykel Evora full face mask if that helps, her machine is a Philips Dreamstation BiPAP AVAPS."

Not about wipes or cleaning, but many of the Philips DreamStation's had been recalled due to some foam used in machines breaking down and releasing particles of the foam into the air path which a user could possibly inhale. Were you aware of this recall?

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/res ... s#recalled

[zonker]

Anyways, you can get a years supply of generic cpap wipes for about $25 or less, so how much to you need to save?

$25 a year. and so far, no germs seem to have attacked me.

oh and even worse; i use 1/2 of a baby wipe.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Zaiforce]

Not about wipes or cleaning, but many of the Philips DreamStation's had been recalled due to some foam used in machines breaking down and releasing particles of the foam into the air path which a user could possibly inhale. Were you aware of this recall?

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/res ... s#recalled

Hi there, no I wasn't aware of this recall, thank you for letting me know!

The machine my mum is using is on this lift of recalled devices, but it doesn't belong to her it is on loan from a public hospital until she can get her own prescribed from a specialist (appointment with them later this month).

Since it is not our machine I don't know whether it has been replaced as part of the recall or whether it is still at risk...

We got the machine on loan from the hospital in late 2023 and the recall seems to have occurred in 2021 & 2022 if I read it correctly, so I hope that the hospital had it replaced/repaired as per the recall process prior to us getting it, but I am not sure.

Hopefully in the next couple of months we will have our own machine for her.

EDIT: Come to think of it, the recall notice mentions that not only foam particles but some non-visible chemicals have been released due to the foam breakdown issue. I have noticed on several occasions (not every time, only sometimes) when replacing the water in the humidifier tray that there has been a weird "film" type substance on-top of the water, viewable when you view the water in the light from a specific angle. The film isn't there when you first put the water in but is there the following morning after a night's use, I wonder now if that could be the chemical in question!

[Grumpy48]

Not about wipes or cleaning, but many of the Philips DreamStation's had been recalled due to some foam used in machines breaking down and releasing particles of the foam into the air path which a user could possibly inhale. Were you aware of this recall?

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/res ... s#recalled

Hi there, no I wasn't aware of this recall, thank you for letting me know!

The machine my mum is using is on this lift of recalled devices, but it doesn't belong to her it is on loan from a public hospital until she can get her own prescribed from a specialist (appointment with them later this month).

Since it is not our machine I don't know whether it has been replaced as part of the recall or whether it is still at risk...

We got the machine on loan from the hospital in late 2023 and the recall seems to have occurred in 2021 & 2022 if I read it correctly, so I hope that the hospital had it replaced/repaired as per the recall process prior to us getting it, but I am not sure.

Hopefully in the next couple of months we will have our own machine for her.

You likely know this from posts on this forum and the praise Resmed gets, but be sure to try and get a Resmed machine for your mum. The prescription from the specialist should be able to specify the brand and model she needs.

[Zaiforce]

You likely know this from posts on this forum and the praise Resmed gets, but be sure to try and get a Resmed machine for your mum. The prescription from the specialist should be able to specify the brand and model she needs.

Thank you, I will keep that in mind.

I edited my past post to add that I have sometimes noticed a weird film substance on-top of the water in the humidifier tray when I replace the water for her each day.

When I add the new water there is no film substance, however the next day after being used at night, the film substance on top of the water will return.

It doesn't seem to be there every time, only sometimes, only really visible when you look at the water from the right angle.

I wonder if this weird film substance is the chemical mentioned in the recall notice that can also be released into the machine air ways as a result of the foam breaking down.

Perhaps it is unrelated but now it worries me.

[robbob2112]

There should never be a film on the water, if there is that also is getting into the lungs.

Have you checked the two filters on the machine? Are they new or clean? The recommended change interval is a bit agressive, but if you don't know how old they are might be best to get new ones and change them.

Are you running a HEPA filter in the room with your mother?

One member recently posted about waxy buildup inside the hose and water tank that turned out to be gypsum and loose drywall dust getting into his machine and causing the waxy buildup.

Presuming you have eliminated all external sources and the filters are clean the skin on the water is one of the tell-tale signs of the recall foam coming apart - your mothers machine is one affected unless it was procured after being "fixed". If it is under recall it means the same particles are in the air your mother is breathing. The link below is all about it.
https://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/ ... src-update

If it has been more than 5 years or if your unit is recalled you should get a resmed version of the machine from your mother's DME. Also realize you can change your mother's DME at will if you aren't getting good answers from them.

In resmed's line of machines you will need an 'Aircurve' model, they come in the version 10 and the version 11 of the machine. Version 11 is most recent and was just released so may not be available yet. Version 10 has a long reliable track record and it good for 22500 on the motor and then it can b refurbed with a new motor for another go around.

The Aircurve 10 ASV is what I use, I suspect your mother needs the S or ST model. The Aircurve series has never been in as much demand as the airsense series so the odds of finding a genuine used machine are pretty low and you are better off with new.

There are people that sell what they say are ST or ASV or all types - they are selling the hardware from the low end machines and they have opened it up and flashed the firmware to enable all modes. Some people have used the Airbreak hack because they couldn't afford the premium price for the high end models. Nothing wrong with it if you don't mind the illegal aspect of it. Just know what it is you are buying.

For any Resmed model you get you should verify the 'run hours' on the machine before signing for it. On the series 10 you just turn it on and press the round button then scroll to the bottom and see the 'about' and it will list it. On the series 11, power up, hold a finger on both menu options for 20 seconds or so, then go to about and see the runtime.

They run them at the factory for up to 20 hours max, anything longer than that is a machine that was issued to someone else and then returned.

My wife's DME tried to issue her a machine with a bit over a thousand hours on it until I complained, then they magically came up with a brand new one that had 1 hour on it.

[Pugsy]

I suspect your mother needs the S or ST model.

You have zero way to know what is needed because you don't know the diagnosis that she is being treated for.

[Grumpy48]

"The machine my mum is using is on this lift of recalled devices, but it doesn't belong to her it is on loan from a public hospital until she can get her own prescribed from a specialist (appointment with them later this month)."

Where this unit is on loan from a public hospital, its likely been loaned out many times before your mum. Perhaps someone that borrowed it got a bright idea to 'sanitize' with an aerosol spray into where the hose attaches and it left a residue(?). Or I have no idea if a hospital might do similar since it's a loaner unit, hopefully with something safe for human inhalation. If your mum is going to have the machine much longer it might be worth a call to the hospital to ask.

[Zaiforce]

There should never be a film on the water, if there is that also is getting into the lungs.

Have you checked the two filters on the machine? Are they new or clean? The recommended change interval is a bit agressive, but if you don't know how old they are might be best to get new ones and change them.

Are you running a HEPA filter in the room with your mother?

One member recently posted about waxy buildup inside the hose and water tank that turned out to be gypsum and loose drywall dust getting into his machine and causing the waxy buildup.

Presuming you have eliminated all external sources and the filters are clean the skin on the water is one of the tell-tale signs of the recall foam coming apart - your mothers machine is one affected unless it was procured after being "fixed". If it is under recall it means the same particles are in the air your mother is breathing. The link below is all about it.
https://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/ ... src-update

If it has been more than 5 years or if your unit is recalled you should get a resmed version of the machine from your mother's DME. Also realize you can change your mother's DME at will if you aren't getting good answers from them.

In resmed's line of machines you will need an 'Aircurve' model, they come in the version 10 and the version 11 of the machine. Version 11 is most recent and was just released so may not be available yet. Version 10 has a long reliable track record and it good for 22500 on the motor and then it can b refurbed with a new motor for another go around.

The Aircurve 10 ASV is what I use, I suspect your mother needs the S or ST model. The Aircurve series has never been in as much demand as the airsense series so the odds of finding a genuine used machine are pretty low and you are better off with new.

There are people that sell what they say are ST or ASV or all types - they are selling the hardware from the low end machines and they have opened it up and flashed the firmware to enable all modes. Some people have used the Airbreak hack because they couldn't afford the premium price for the high end models. Nothing wrong with it if you don't mind the illegal aspect of it. Just know what it is you are buying.

For any Resmed model you get you should verify the 'run hours' on the machine before signing for it. On the series 10 you just turn it on and press the round button then scroll to the bottom and see the 'about' and it will list it. On the series 11, power up, hold a finger on both menu options for 20 seconds or so, then go to about and see the runtime.

They run them at the factory for up to 20 hours max, anything longer than that is a machine that was issued to someone else and then returned.

My wife's DME tried to issue her a machine with a bit over a thousand hours on it until I complained, then they magically came up with a brand new one that had 1 hour on it.

Hi there, thank you for the reply.

Is the "skin" on the water a confirmed sign of the foam breakdown?

We checked the manufacture date on the bottom of the machine and it was made in 2019 and after checking the serial number on the Philips website it is indeed a recalled model.

I contacted the hospital respiratory team and they were unaware of the recall so this machine has not been replaced/repaired, they have initiated the registration of the machine for a replacement to be sent, but the confirmation email from Philips says it could be some time.

Unfortunately stopping treatment until a new machine arrives is not an option for her as she suffers from extremely bad hypoventilation and desperately requires the BiPAP therapy.

I am now quite worried about this foam issue, I inspected inside and around the humidifier tray and found a number of little black specs but it was impossible to tell if it was foam or just regular dust particles.

We change the filter on her machine every 2 weeks, so I know it is clean, the "film" I am referring to on the water surface inside the water tray is basically like a splotchy thin film, it's difficult to see unless you have good light on it.

We also have a residue buildup inside the hosing, I am unsure what it is but it has been there a long time and just keeps building up, we wash the tubing weekly but it is still there. (Picture below)

Screenshot_20240301_210525_Messenger.jpg (189.55 KiB) Viewed 10780 times

I am really unsure what to do, mum has been using this loan machine for approx. 4 months, the replacement machine could take some time, and mum wont have her own machine for probably 2 more months or so (it will be a ResMed machine I have been informed).

She does not have a HEPA filter, would that assist?

This is very concerning that she may suffer illness from this

[robbob2112]

I suspect your mother needs the S or ST model.

You have zero way to know what is needed because you don't know the diagnosis that she is being treated for.

Sorry, my assumption was based on the type machine she is using and something comparable. You are correct that she should consult the Dr for the exact machine