Shallow Activa dimensions

I am repeating my prior question, since it got lost on page 2 with no reply:

Can someone describe the difference between the shallow and the standard Activa ? Is the only difference the depth of the mask? I have a narrow nose bridge--does it fit the same across the bridge? I could use a narrower fit than my standard ACTIVA.

My standard is working ok, but some nights I do have to fool with it to get the leaks under control.

Moogy

moogy--

if you don't get a good answer here, you should call cpap.com. that's the kind of thing they are very good answering and they can discusss all the ins and outs with you to help you figure out whether shallow would be any better for you.

caroline

p.s. i do not work for cpap.com but have usually had good luck with them discussing specific mask fit for my particular face - sometimes it requires more of an interchange than is practical on a message board.

There is a "template" on the ResMed website that describes the 3 profiles for the UM-II, (NOT the Activa). I can only guess there are broad similarites, but I could never get a straight answer from numerous conversations or emails from ResMed, nor any of the online DMEs I talked to. I have not (to date) been able to detect any indication that the "sizing page" is in doubt with regard to the activa, and the few replies that I actually got from ResMed to the same question were an attached PDF file that showed how to FIT the headgear and apparatus, NOT how to choose the correct mask. (Nor how to surgically modify my face to fit a given mask). One recurring suggestion is that, if the UM-II "standard" works for you, well then the "standard" might also work for the Activea. Well maybe. My best suggestion would be to go somewhere that has all sizes on the shelf and try them on. That is not unheard of. Alternatively, buy all 3, sell 2 on eBay. That has also been done. Good for DMEs, but very annoying.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

Cordially,

-Ric

moogy:

i have a shallow and a standard on series 2 and maybe on mirage or ultra mirage nasal. i can pull them out and compare for you, but i thought you specifically needed activa. if you think pulling mine out will help you, please let me know.

caroline

Moogy, I can wear either cushion - shallow or standard - in my Activa. I have a small nose.

The Shallow is misnamed, imho. It's not really that it's less deep than the Standard. The Shallow cushion is cut a bit wider on the inside at the top (bridge of nose) and at the bottom (at the sides and under the nostrils.) It fits a bit shorter from top to bottom...doesn't extend down as far on the upper lip area. The plastic outer frame is the same size no matter which cushion size is clipped into it. The differences I've mentioned in the "cut out shape" of the Shallow vs the Standard are very small differences. Not a drastic difference at all.

Being cut out a bit wider across the bridge of the nose might make the Shallow settle just a little closer down on the face at the bridge, but the outer plastic frame is still the same depth, so it's not like a "shallow" cushion is mashed down on one's face. The cutout at the bridge of the nose is a just little wider and blunter -- not as much of an inverted V shape up there. More like an inverted U shape.

Someone once told me that in speaking to a very experienced nurse (Suzie, I believe her name was) at ResMed's support line, she told them that she believes the Shallow cushion suits more people than does the Standard. The Shallow is advertised as being for "wider" noses, but the Shallow seems to be very good for any average nose.

The word "Standard" sounds like it is supposed to suit more people...the average person... but I think Shallow would fit most people better. If a person has a very prominent beak of a nose - a Roman nose or hook - then the Standard would be better.

Thanks for all the replies. I have been traveling this month, so I hadn't caught up on this thread until today. I am thinking of getting the shallow Activa cushion as a replacement for my standard cushion. My insurance is supposed to cover a new cushion every 3 months, and I am now at the 3 month point.

As some of you might remember, my Activa cushion took a little dive into the dumpster a week or so ago, and I rescued it in the middle of the night before trash-pickup. I cleaned it and I am using it again, but I am having more leaks than before the accident. I think either the cushion or the clip might have been slightly knocked out of shape due to the 6 heavy bags of trash that got dumped on top of it....

Moogy