Quattro torn cushion - need a repair suggestion

[robrdavis]

I know that there's a number of lab rats out there that are not afraid to take a hacksaw and drill to your masks to improve them. I'm looking for your help (and that of lab rat wannabe's too!).

Somehow, several months back, the cushion to my mask developed a slight tear at the bottom of the cushion about mid-way from the mask to the edge. It started and ended within the cushion, never grew and never caused a problem until the other day. Sometime during my four-year-old son's "nap" he decided to play with daddy's mask and apparently shoved his finger through and tore it open from the middle to the edge. Fortunately the cushion is not torn all the way through and still seals properly at the mask.

The tear is growing each night and, being without insurance, I frankly can't afford to buy a new cushion right now. This one is going to have to last a few weeks as it is.

My question is this: What have others done to McGuyver a torn cushion? Do you have any suggestions to help me limp this one along until I can get it replaced?

Thanks!

[mars]

Hi robrdavis

I have a quattro, and on looking at it, I reckon something like cellotape or some cloth backed tape might do the job, at least for a little while.

CpapAuction have some low priced cushions you might be interested in -

http://www.cpapauction.com/searchListin ... &sitenum=0

Good luck.

Mars

[katcw]

Electrical tape? I would think you'd want something that does not let air pass through.

[josef]

Luckily, I'm retired and I still have insurance. I wear a Quattro large and my insurance buys me a new mask ever 6 months and new cushions ever month. If you wanted, I could send you 1 of my old masks and some of my old cushions worn for only a month. I'm sure they could be properly sanitized.

josef46@suddenlink.net

[robrdavis]

Wow Josef, thanks for the offer, but unfortunately, I'm wearing a medium and that's a little on the "too big" size. I really appreciate the offer though!

I was thinking about backing it with some tape, probably medical (cloth) tape, to see how that would work, but was afraid that it might put strain on other parts of the cushion, causing it to tear somewhere else.

I'd not considered electrical tape. I'd suppose that might work better as the plastic tape might have a little more give to it, but I'm concerned about what sort of chemicals the adhesive may have in it.

Thanks for reminding me about cpapauction. I'd forgotten that it existed. I'll probably end up purchasing a cushion through that when the time comes.

In the mean time, I'm open to any more suggestions.

~rob

[josef]

Amazon.com has them for $29.95 + $4.68 shipping.

[Paul56]

Get some surgical tape and make your repair with that.

In this case, go on a search in one of the bigger pharmacies in your area for your repair materials... instead of Home Depot.

[robrdavis]

surgical tape

I think we have a winner! I'll let you know.

[bizbuilderz]

Duct tape works like a charm. I have a tear in my cushion at the chin. Pretty common I hear. I searched for a fix online. I tried different tapes with no success and i finally tried duct tape and like I said it works like a charm.

[mgaggie]

I'd use surgical tape as others have suggested. It won't leave a sticky residue and has a little bit of give.

[LSAT]

FYI......This is a 3+ year old thread.

[mgaggie]

FYI......This is a 3+ year old thread.

[chunkyfrog]

A better idea would be to have a back-up.
Do not discard the old one-even if it's icky and yellow; still better than a torn one.
Insurance will cover new ones periodically--let them help you.
DME's are closed nights and weekends--maybe it's their way of encouraging us to keep a spare handy.