New shell available for Hybrid users from manufacturer

[chdurie2]

In addition to new headgear available to Hybrid users from the manufacturer, as reported here on other posts, the manufacturer also has made available, at no charge to users, a new shell with smaller exhalation ports. I don't know what the manufacturer had in mind in making the new shell, but my pressure on an autopap has been substantially lower with Hybrid than with UMFF (7s compared to 11s), and i've been having pre-cpap sleep with Hybrid, and the manufacturer's customer sales department seemed to think the new shell would help me. I wouldn't even be tempted to persevere, except that most of you seem to be having such good fortune with this mask and some of you have reported that the manufacturer seems to be very interested in making each user's experience a good one. So I called the manufacturer, and they suggested the new shell as a fix.

Btw, they said 1-2 cm variation in pressure vs. other masks is not unusual but 4 is a lot.

So i'll try this before offering mine for sale--they do seem to vary their advice, depending on the user's problem. I asked about cutting off the chin flap, which some people have done, and they said that wouldn't help me.

Btw, Johnny, since many of us bought this mask from cpap.com, at least in part based on your sponsored review by mike moran, it might be nice if you kept your current and prospective customers informed on/supplied with product improvements the company has made available

Caroline

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, APAP

[Stryker5777]

Is that the only change that you can tell? Has your leak rate went down according to the software?


Stryker5777

[chdurie2]

No, my leak rate has gone up, and the rep thought the new headgear might help with that as well as fooling around with pillow sizes and positions. So far I HATE this mask--there, I'll say it. But I'll withhold final judgment (and sale) until I get the new stuff.

Caroline

[mikemoran]

Just want to be clear on the record. Johnny did not sponsor my review, other than provide the board for us to post on. Though they usually do keep everyone pretty informed when there are product changes if they are made aware of it. CPAP.com went above and beyond when the Comfort curve came out with a new headband. Sometimes the only way they find out things is when we post it here.

[chdurie2]

mike--

as i recall, and please correct me if i am wrong, johnny selected you to write a review of it, sent you a free mask and then informed us of this. by sponsored, i meant that johnny wanted a review of this mask to appear on this forum by a person he selected, provided you with a free mask and the space for the review. i call that a sponsored review. hey, it's good for business.

personally, i think a retailer offering a new product has more reason than a consumer to stay in touch with the manufacturer about new product reception and improvements. i would think all the retailer needs to do is ask. it would be surprising to learn that a retailer's questions were met with deaf ears, and yet the manufacturer is offering these improvements to inquiring consumers.

but the point of my post primarily was to inform people not criticize. i hope that others' problems with the Hybrid can be resolved with these improvements and any others the manufacturer brings out.

caroline

[wading thru the muck!]

as i recall, and please correct me if i am wrong, johnny selected you to write a review of it, sent you a free mask...

Put my pre-order (for Hybrid) in at CPAP.com. $180 but better than the $209 list price. says it will ship 6/26. Will let you know how it goes.

According to this quote it appears Mike paid for his Hybrid.

[chdurie2]

wading:

Since you appear to have challenged the accuracy of what I have said, I re-print the following quote from Johnny, which gave me reason for thinking what I wrote (and I don't seem to be able to use the quote button, but my cut-and-paste has not altered any words):

In the meantime, here are a few things I have decided.

#1 We have some free products out for review right now and we will publish them in a CPAPtalk style format if they predate the launch of CPAP.com's user review system.

#2 We reserve the right to select who we wish for product reviews. A lot of emails and PMs to me and my father will not get you free samples. To lobby for free product, be an active and respected member of CPAPtalk. Have 2000+ posts. Be someone whose advice people seek out. Write a book on CPAP that lifts our spirit. When I've given out free products, I think "wow, they've done all that for CPAPtalk, the least I can do is give them a mask sample".

Johnny

For those who do not know, mike moran wrote a book on cpap that lifted our spirit.

Regardless of whether Mike actually paid for his mask, a review is sponsored in my mind when the forum administrator selects a reviewer, whether it is by invitation or selective application.

Wading, I hope you get your free shell from the Hybrid folks if you need one.

Caroline

[oldgearhead]

Caroline - I think you have your 'facts' confused. All of us who purchased one of
the first Hybrids from cpap dot com were asked to send in a review. Mike's
appears first because he was thew first. The mask company did send some
free samples on a first come first served basis to a list of forum members
compiled by another forum member.

Even though cpap dot com doesn't usually request reviews for items not purchased from them, they did publish some reviews from the 'free mask'
group. However, Mike was NOT in that group.

The Hybrid mask, like all masks, is not for everyone.

[mikemoran]

I paid for the Hybrid out of my own pocket. I was not compensated for my review in any way. I wrote the review for two reasons. One because I had ordered early and was one of the first to receive it so I thought I would share my start up expereince with everyone. Two I had the latest toy on the block and wanted everyone to know. I tried to be objective in my review and was not pitching the mask, but my peronal opinion of it.

I can understand how such a misunderstanding could occur. I did have the opportunity to evaluate the Brethe-X and that was sponsored by Hoffman Labs and CPAP.com. I appreciated the opportunity to do so. But those opportunities come around only once in a while. All my other reviews of masks have been from personal experience. Of the 16 masks I own, the only one I didn't buy out of pocket was the Swift provided by my insurance.

So I hope this sets the record straight.

One more thing I was not selected for review by anyone. I just did a post on the board like everyone else. After that I submitted a review for CPAP.com to post with their product, to participate in Johnny's new review process. The review process Johnny was referring to, was getting a free evaluation unit, so me paying for the mask clearly makes it an un-sponsored review.



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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, swift

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, swift

[Issacccc]

Mike, of all the reviews, yours was the best to follow and understand each step of the way. Probably because you DID PAY out of your own pocket and could rightly foresee before anyone else what a drastic effect this mask would have in the market and in our lives.
My sleep tech told me his labs first thought the mask was just another gimmick until the demand became overwhelming and they had to not only include it, but they have more demand for it than any other mask they have ever had. He was stumped and could not stand the fact that I (thanks to you) knew about the mask before him.

That alternate shell is only for those whose machines issue leak warnings with no leaks.They prefer the science of the larger C02 washout, but one of the masks, the S8's by Resmed, cannot read the mask. The one that does not fit the humidifier and is not in big demand. That's all I was told.
I like the better, larger C02 washout, too. I would change machines before I would change my mask.

Respcare is on to something much better, even if Resmed is slow to pick up on the latest technology.They have been slow to pick up on a lot of things and I've been seriously thinking that I should go with Respironics when it comes to a BIPAP machine.Ever since this overcharging and price raising campaign of Resmeds, I have lost trust in that company. It's just clear to me that they are in it more for the money, not the patient. By denying that CPAP.COM and TALKABOUTSLEEP provide education with their wonderful forums and links to education about sleep disorders, they have shown their true agenda. I think they don't want online companies selling their stuff because they become more exposed when you and I poste on the forums. I'm getting off track here....stick with the topic, right?

[tooly125]

The mask company did send some
free samples on a first come first served basis to a list of forum members
compiled by another forum member.

I was lucky enough to receive one of those free masks and in exchange I was asked to write a review.
The review request was from the hybrid rep. not cpap.com.

Caroline,

Please keep us updated on what differences you notice when you get your new shell.
Thanks

[Issaccc]

my password is not working today for some reason, but it's me, Issac.

Mike Moran, you own 16 masks?

That's like a harem of masks.....a full harem.....
Wow , which little beauty will I wear tonight? I know, the Hybrid...,but I'll be thinking of the Hans Rudolph....or the Oracle...

What if you wore an oracle and a nasalaire II and spliced the tubing into one hose. Then you would have a threesome.

[wolftracker]

I am not sure what to tell you about it.

there is a different curve on it ...
not sure how to tell about the vent holes
to my old eye ball they look the same

it is the curve that seems to me different ...
and the new one looks like about 1/4 inch shallower the
the old one.

i would take a picture of both but can not post picts
and not sure the angle to take the picture



hmmm

[Guest]

so the shell is smaller and the holes are the same, wolftracker? What wasthe problem with the old shell if it isnt the venting?? Now, I'm perplexed

[wolftracker]

I spoke to Javier and told him that my ahi was about the same
maybe a little higher ...

but my pressure was up about a 1 pound
but my snores was up 10 fold

he told me he thought the new shell would help and i
got it yesterday ... will try it tonite to see what happens
if my old headgear will hold it ...

but like i said me and ms wolftracker
looked with our eye balls and the holes look the same
that does not mean they really are by measurement

my .02