Leak rates with the Swift

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 4:35 pm

WAFlowers wrote:jdacal, that sounds like it is within the expected "leak" range for the Swift at that pressure.

Bill,
How can I find out what the "expected leak range" is for the Swift. I've looked through the literature and online and haven't been able to find any info. on it. I know somebody (Lori?) suggested the info. might be in the literature but I can't find it.

My Swift leaks alot some days (like last night and the night before) and then hardly at all on other days. I tried adjusting my straps a little tighter last night but it didn't help. If I lie on my back or on my right side (I have the tubing on the right side), I get a lot more leaking...not sure why yet. I also get some leaking where the tube fits into the CPAP machine...not sure what to do about that either. I have another "fitting' for the machine but can't figure out how to get the one that's in there out of there (it's really tight). Just one more thing to take care of...eventually...

Thanks,
Amy

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:27 pm

Amy, in the manual that came with the mask, it lists the Vent Flow Rate at different pressures. At 8, for example, the VFR is 29 At 10, t's about 33. At 12, it's about 37. At 14, it's 40. At 16, it's about 43. At 18, it's about 47. And at 20, it's 49.

Hope this helps. I am going to scan the chart and if it comes out all right, I'll post it later.

heretolearn · Post by **heretolearn** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:41 pm

Guess I must be one of the lucky ones when it comes to leaks.
My average pressure on Spirit Auto is 9-10 and leaks are usually 0.0 with my Swift. Maybe once or twice a month I will find a leak rate at .1 or .2 but that is rare. Even with other masks (Actva and Aura) it is vwery seldom that i register any leaks!

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:43 pm

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:46 pm

heretolearn,

If I'm not mistaken, Spirit is done in lps, not lpm, meaning liters per second as opposed to liters per minute. So you'd have to do the math to get the values when masks flow vent rates are measured in "per minute" and not "per second," which would mean multiplying them by 60 to get the rate.

Regardless, you are amazingly low with those rates and you should be very happy. I would be!

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:51 am

yawn wrote:How can I find out what the "expected leak range" is for the Swift. I've looked through the literature and online and haven't been able to find any info. on it. I know somebody (Lori?) suggested the info. might be in the literature but I can't find it.

I was basing my statement on the empirical evidence of my own experience as report by SilverLining.

Lori, great find on that chart! I knew that leak rates (VFR) were proportional to pressure. What you posted confirms my expectation of the leak rate at the pressures I use.

If I lie on my back or on my right side (I have the tubing on the right side), I get a lot more leaking...not sure why yet.

I get the lowest leak rate lying on my back ... but then I adjusted my straps when lying on my back (not standing or sitting) so I guess that is to be expected. The problem with this is I'm becoming convinced (as Lori is/was) that the Swift trains people to be back sleepers, which isn't necessarily a good thing!

I also get some leaking where the tube fits into the CPAP machine...not sure what to do about that either. I have another "fitting' for the machine but can't figure out how to get the one that's in there out of there (it's really tight). Just one more thing to take care of...eventually...

Just ask your friendly, local DME for some help. NOT!!! .

IMHO, until you get your "system" under control (i.e. resolve the leaks at connections) it will be nearly impossible to quantify your leaks at your interface (where your mask meets your nares). Solve the known problems first, then see what problems, if any, remain.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:01 am

Amy,

My machine leaked at the connection where the hh goes into the machine. You were the one who told me to replace that seal, but they both do it. I solved the problem (when I keep the hh attached as I don't really use it) by taking a piece of paper medical tape and putting it around the connection on the piece going into the machine and overlapping it onto the seal, pushing it against where the two meet. That worked. At least I didn't feel the air leaking anymore as I had. It was only a pin hole of air, anyway, though.

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:25 pm

Lori - thanks for the chart. That's exactly what I was looking for. I can't find it in my literature though so thanks for posting it. You're correct in that I told you to replace that connector but I couldn't figure out how to do it on my machine. I finally did figure it out last night and it made a big difference. The 1st connector was leaking very badly. The new one is much better but I can still feel a little air. I'll try taping the HH and see if that helps tonight. My leak rate was a little bit better last night .

Bill...I agree with you on becoming a back sleeper. I never used to be able to sleep on my back because I would be in terrible pain. Now I have a tempur-pedic mattress and it doesn't hurt to be on my back anymore. I sure wish somebody could make the perfect mask for all of us.

Amy

frostman · Post by **frostman** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 3:45 am

I wanted to like my swift, it was so light and felt good, the nasal pillow system didn't bother me much. Last night I looked at my last 2 week data where I had worn the swift and the activa. Clearly the activa has done better for me, AHI usually less then 2.0, leak rates under 30. The swift just kept leaking, no matter what I did I couldn't stop it, I may go back and try again, but the activa is so comfortable

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:20 am

Frostman,

I hate to keep saying the same things, but the Swift was the only mask I ever had a problem mouth breathing with. Is it possible the same thing is happening to you? I used the Activa for six weeks prior to switching to the Swift. When I did, not only did I mouth breathe but I had mouth puffs which were very disturbing. Since going to the Aura, I no longer have to tape my mouth at night and I don't have a problem at all with the leak rate.

Just a thought that maybe the Swift is causing the same thing to happen to you. You might want to experiment before you give up on it a few nights and see if you tape your mouth, if the leak rate lowers and you get better numbers with it.