MIRAGE SWIFT LT QUALITY POLL--THE RESMED CHARADE???

[plr66]

Even with my reading glasses and a magnifying glass, I could not find a small number. A more detailed location please.

Here ya go!

[Hawthorne]

I found the number on my SwiftLT pillows. I seem to have some 6, some 7 and some 8, although the 8 may be that it is really a 6 and not as clear.

Unfortunately I have no idea which pillows I got early on and which were purchased later.

I bought several on ebay and the others came with the masks when I bought the 2 complete ones I have. I have used several of them and they are in rotation night to night. I have a few that have never been used yet. I'm just holding them until the current ones wear out or loose their seal.

I'm not sure this is much in comparing the quality of the first and "later" pillows.

[BleepingBeauty]

Here's the info I can provide, plr66:

I've been using my Swift LT since December of '08; got it from my DME. The small pillow has the number 4 on it. The medium pillow (which I use) sports the number 5. I no longer have the large pillow that came with the mask, as I traded it recently with another forum member for an additional medium. The new medium has the number 7 on it and it does, indeed, feel "flimsier" to me than the medium I've been using for the past six months. I haven't used the new one yet, though, so I can't compare its performance. Very interesting thread, and I'll be watching to see how things turn out.

In the meantime, here's a tip for anyone trying to see that tiny little number on the pillow. I don't have a magnifying glass, but I found that if I held the pillow up in front of a good light source, the number was easy to see.

[feeling_better]

I have two purchases about 8 months apart. Without disclosing the numbers, it is interesting to note that the numbers for S,M,L from the same purchase are different!! I had already previously given my purchase dates and my view of the quality -- I will disclose the numbers later, not to bias anybody

[The Texan]

Well the numbers are still very hard to see, but it appears that I have a 1, which came with my mask, two 9's , which I got from a trade with a Canadian and an East coast resident. The original with a 1 is much firmer than the 9's and I wish I had the one I threw away, so we could get the number that was on it. It was as flimsy as I have ever seen and the nostril parts collapsed one to many times and it went in the garbage. I have and use a M size.

[Mebake]

I have been using the Swift for about 6 months and have managed to collect 10 of the large pillows with a range of different numbers on them. I have noticed no real difference between them. The only time I have an issue with fit is when the pillows become dirty. I replace the pillows every night and wash the lot of them every week.

[Hawthorne]

Mebake - in response to what you posted - My SwiftLT pillows, that seemed to have been ready to be thrown out, have "perked up" again since I have been using a clean (mild soap and water washed one) every night. I have quite a number of them and can wash them once a week, as you do, and have a clean one every night.

I was using Citrus wipes on the first of them but that caused them to break down faster. Even the ones I have used Citrus wipes on in the past are now in use again, now that they have a mild soap and water wash.

[feeling_better]

The only time I have an issue with fit is when the pillows become dirty. I replace the pillows every night and wash the lot of them every week.

Well, this is what I do: When I get up I remove the pillow put it in a small container of water with a drop of baby shampoo. And whenever I get around to it or remember it during the day, (but always before going to bed ) rinse and put it back on. Since the mask is not allowed to dry out, the cleaning becomes trivial, no real washing involved. Work-wise, it is the same, one removal and one replacement (and no stock of masks to keep around).

[feeling_better]

Well the numbers are still very hard to see, but it appears that I have a 1, which came with my mask, two 9's , which I got from a trade with a Canadian and an East coast resident. The original with a 1 is much firmer than the 9's and I wish I had the one I threw away, so we could get the number that was on it. It was as flimsy as I have ever seen and the nostril parts collapsed one to many times and it went in the garbage.

Those of us quoting these number please do show which size pillow. As I posted earlier, the numbers for different size pillows from the same purchase are different!!

[Mebake]

Mebake - in response to what you posted - My SwiftLT pillows, that seemed to have been ready to be thrown out, have "perked up" again since I have been using a clean (mild soap and water washed one) every night. I have quite a number of them and can wash them once a week, as you do, and have a clean one every night.

I was using Citrus wipes on the first of them but that caused them to break down faster. Even the ones I have used Citrus wipes on in the past are now in use again, now that they have a mild soap and water wash.

Try Dr Bronners peppermint soap. Its nice and mild and leaves a wonderful smell. I found it in a local health food store and got a quart on sale for $14.00 bucks

[plr66]

Since this was brought to the top by someone else--just thought I would update to say that USA Product Mgr Jennifer says today that the engineers in Sydney should finish their investigation of this issue by early next week or sooner. Stay tuned. I have requested that they post their own results here.

[plr66]

So after all that, here is the outcome statement from ResMed, copied in full:


["We understand your complaint is that the replacement cushions are softer than the original

· People prefer a range of pillow stiffness for their individual preference. Some replies to ResMed indicates that some customers find the pillows too flexible, but others are finding the pillows should be more flexible. ResMed has balanced the stiffness range for all population where the majority of our customers are happy with the current design.
· The Swift LT is designed using double wall pillows that require lower headgear force than the original Swift and should not be over tightened to seal and stabilize as indicated on our user guide and related section of the Flexible Active Seal Technology (F.A.S.T) section on our web. This improves comfort and is a strong selling point for the Swift LT.
· Swift LT pillows are made from silicone which has a natural variation of stiffness from batch to batch and the material characteristics of the silicone will change during use according to user conditions such as skin type, cleaning regime, usage of any facial cream, etc.
· Added to this we have several multi-cavity moulds making each size of pillows
· The result is that the stiffness of pillows varies between samples but all pillows including return samples are within the design specification range.
Thus, we hear the concerns of our customers and have established a program to reduce the variability of the pillows in early production cycle. This program will further help to minimize the difference noted by our customers when moving to a new pillow. This program will take some time to complete and for parts to replace stocks in the field. However, when any new pillow is used, the mask will require headgear readjustment to optimize the fit to suit the new pillow to prevent over tightening as indicated in user guide.

Thank you for your patience and I hope this has helped alleviate your concern.

Jennifer Baum
Product Manager- Masks
ResMed Corp.]

Edit: Had trouble with updating the subject line, but it did work after all.

[feeling_better]

So after all that, here is the outcome statement from ResMed, copied in full: ...

plr66, That is par for the course. While this is in line with some of my speculations in this thread previously, I hope you did not end up spending out of pocket for sending your products to them! I had suggested you get them to reimburse you for everything before you give them anything... You were doing them a favor, not the other way.

[DNAClone]

Sounds like a good reason for me to continue using the Swift II. Provides me with a better seal than the Swift LT. I like the headgear and design of the Swift LT better but the best fit that minimizes leaks takes precedence.

[jdm2857]

Wonderful. I just started APAP (a whole 2 nights) and the Swift LT has been working well so far. I thought that I was lucky, but now I feel that I may not be able to depend on this mask in the future.

Is there a way to tell if I have one of the older or newer pillows? My medium pillow has the number 1 on it. This most likely identifies which mold the pillow was made in, so that if defects are found the engineers know which mold to examine. Since molds like these are very expensive, I suspect that ResMed may have changed the silicone material used, or the process used, or both, but not the molds themselves. Thus, the same numbers are most likely on both the old and new production pillows.