Setting Mask Type on Resmed AirSense S10

ResMed AirSense 10 has a place for the user to indicate the type of mask being worn, presumably (in my ignorance) to calculate unintentional/large leak. The choices given are pillows, nasal and FFM. Problem: a nasal cradle mask is neither a traditional over-the-nose nasal mask nor a pillow mask with pieces that go into the nares. If user is wearing a nasal cradle mask, what is the proper choice? Nasal? Pillows?

Two questions:
1. What is the proper choice here?
2. Is anyone aware of an official ResMed resource (after all, they manufactured the machine) that spells out the proper choice for each mask?

Thank you.

PS -- To complicate matters, I believe I read somewhere that the setting should be "pillows" when the user is wearing an N20 traditional over-the-nose nasal mask. That seems counter-intuitive. Maybe a discussion for another day. Hmmm.

Since ResMed codes their Cradle mask as N30i I assume Dreamstation Cradle is meant to be nasal. It really doesn't make a whole lot of difference. it's mainly used somewhere in the leak calculation.

Not only leak calculations but the inherent resistance in any mask is why we choose mask types.
It's not going to make enough difference to matter between nasal and pillow though.

And yes...Resmed does sometimes suggest pillow for a mask that is probably listed in the "nasal" mask type section of most sellers.
Most of the "cradle" type of mask have the inherent resistance similar to nasal pillow masks so I would use pillows if it were me.

I use the Bleep...not an over the nose, not a cradle and not a pillow...but I still use pillow setting because the inherent resistance is low and more closely matches the common nasal pillow masks.

And yes...ResMed does say use "pillows" for the N20
See page 9
https://document.resmed.com/documents/p ... ac_eng.pdf

Sorry I don't know of any big list that makes this information easy to get. They make you work for it by reading all the user guides but they do make the user guides available for all their masks.
And they sure won't make it easy for a non Resmed brand mask. They don't want you buying anything but ResMed but that's a money thing and not a function thing.

clownbell wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:40 pm

ResMed AirSense 10 has a place for the user to indicate the type of mask being worn, presumably (in my ignorance) to calculate unintentional/large leak.

Leak is calculated by excess airflow, and vent rates don't correlate to mask type. Some pillow masks have vent rates higher than full face masks. some don't.

The mask type setting helps the machine do a better job of pressure compensation so that it delivers the correct pressure at your face.

clownbell wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:40 pm

The choices given are pillows, nasal and FFM. Problem: a nasal cradle mask is neither a traditional over-the-nose nasal mask nor a pillow mask with pieces that go into the nares. If user is wearing a nasal cradle mask, what is the proper choice? Nasal? Pillows?

Two questions:
1. What is the proper choice here?
2. Is anyone aware of an official ResMed resource (after all, they manufactured the machine) that spells out the proper choice for each mask?

Thank you.

The Resmed F30 is similar, and requires a 'Full Face" setting. let that be your guide.

clownbell wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:40 pm

PS -- To complicate matters, I believe I read somewhere that the setting should be "pillows" when the user is wearing an N20 traditional over-the-nose nasal mask. That seems counter-intuitive. Maybe a discussion for another day. Hmmm.

The N20 manual says 'pillows'. however it vents at the same rate as a full face mask, this should be a good indication that the mask type is based on the size of the hose going to the mask, and the air flow resistance it provides.

Thanks for the info.

Pugsy, I appreciate your pointing out the location in the ResMed manual. I do have the manual but could not find the info. Now I know where to look. Thank you.

Palerider, I never thought about the machine using that info to deliver the correct pressure to your face. A new insight for me.

clownbell wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 27, 2021 10:15 am

Palerider, I never thought about the machine using that info to deliver the correct pressure to your face. A new insight for me.

Everything between the machine and your face introduces *some* resistance to flow, and that resistance results in a lower pressure, so the machine compensates for that by having a higher pressure at the machine. I've measured over 10cm difference between the back of the machine and the mask with my setup, but I've got an AB filter, and a 3 meter hose. The presence or absence of the humidifier is also something that the machine takes into account, but that's automatic.

Seems like if they want you to choose Nasal, Pillow, or Full Face

and mask names are P30, F30, or N30....

they aren't trying to be tricky