My Quattro leaks!

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu May 24, 2007 9:55 am

Wulfman wrote:You guys have got ME convinced......which way NOT to go on this one.

Den (sticking with what's been workin' for me)

might as well save some money and stick with the UMFF, it has the same comfort level, leaks about the same, easier to adjust, easier to put on, the forehead pads don't pop out on you and I think it is even quieter.

So unless you just like to spend more money....

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu May 24, 2007 9:59 am

Snoredog wrote:
Wulfman wrote:You guys have got ME convinced......which way NOT to go on this one.

Den (sticking with what's been workin' for me)
might as well save some money and stick with the UMFF, it has the same comfort level, leaks about the same, easier to adjust, easier to put on, the forehead pads don't pop out on you and I think it is even quieter.

So unless you just like to spend more money....

NOPE!.....I need it to buy that liquid gold that my vehicles run on....
(and I'm sufficiently stocked up on UMFF stuff anyway)

But, thanks for spending YOUR money to let us know.

Den

ddpelp · Post by **ddpelp** » Thu May 24, 2007 10:36 am

snoredog,

Man I am glad you said

in fact the cushions pop out of the forehead plastic all the time, the old UMFF didn't do that.

When I go to take the mask off I pop the right side cushion out of the hole everytime. I ave learned to pull the forehead support away from my face THEN take the mask off. Only way to keep the forehead support on the mask..

I stil lik eit better then my UMFF.. but that is only after two days ..

DeltaSeeker · Post by **DeltaSeeker** » Thu May 24, 2007 11:07 am

I'm still debating whether or not to try the Quattro. I just got a UMFF from my DME as a "replacement" for the FP431. I tried on the FP432 and thought it would help with leaks but found the cushion inside uncomfortable. It seems like I'm inbetween the small and medium cushions on the UMFF so I went for the "bigger is better" theory. The small was too uncomfortable at the corners of my mouth and the medium was harder to get between the nose bridge and above chin. But I've managed to play around with it enough to get it fitting better.

The first night I had one heck of a nasty sore on the bridge of my nose which lasted all day and my forehead hurt from the "cushion" - probably had the top straps too tight. Luckily haven't had that problem since.

I'm getting more (and longer) large leaks with the UMFF than the FP431 but I am getting many less peaks and valleys like I did with the FP431. The leak rate is higher, but it is documented as higher anyway.

I do think the UMFF is a lot more comfortable than the FP431 and wonder if the Quattro would be even more comfortable? At least my DME people will replace my mask every 30 days until I find one I'm comfortable with (and they even let me keep my old mask - at least when I upgraded to the UMFF they did).

My RT said she'd try to see if she could get a "sample" from the Resmed rep, but commented that they're much "tighter" than the other companies as far as samples go - one of the reasons they don't carry much Resmed stuff - mostly Respironics.

It was interesting testing out the mask in her office since she has an old machine without Cflex. Geez, what a difference that makes - even at a pressure of only 9!

abysmillard · Post by **abysmillard** » Thu May 24, 2007 8:42 pm

So, I wore the Quattro for the full night last night. Did not have to pull it off and switch to the Swift like I have been doing for a week. I decided very early on to go ahead and wrap the end of the elbow with plumber's tape and once I did this the mask was very quiet and virtually leakless all night. I slept better than I have in ages and today I've got much more energy than usual.

One good night is not a fair test, but if I continue sleeping as well as last night I'm gonna keep it, even if I have to stock up on tape to keep it quiet. I will for sure tell the DME guy that it still leaks, and I'll be first in line for a replacement once ResMed figures out that they have a problem and fix it.

One thing I should mention, this is my first mask. I used the Swift for 3 months, pretty happily, but thought I should have a full face mask for when my nose gets stopped up. Since I don't have any frame of reference to speak of, maybe I'm easily pleased...

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu May 24, 2007 9:49 pm

[quote="abysmillard"]So, I wore the Quattro for the full night last night. Did not have to pull it off and switch to the Swift like I have been doing for a week. I decided very early on to go ahead and wrap the end of the elbow with plumber's tape and once I did this the mask was very quiet and virtually leakless all night. I slept better than I have in ages and today I've got much more energy than usual.

One good night is not a fair test, but if I continue sleeping as well as last night I'm gonna keep it, even if I have to stock up on tape to keep it quiet. I will for sure tell the DME guy that it still leaks, and I'll be first in line for a replacement once ResMed figures out that they have a problem and fix it.

One thing I should mention, this is my first mask. I used the Swift for 3 months, pretty happily, but thought I should have a full face mask for when my nose gets stopped up. Since I don't have any frame of reference to speak of, maybe I'm easily pleased...

abysmillard · Post by **abysmillard** » Fri May 25, 2007 6:36 am

I'm not putting tape over the anti-asphyxia holes. I'm just wrapping a piece of tape around the end of the elbow before I insert it into the mask. The tape only impedes the air escaping through the joint.

ddpelp · Post by **ddpelp** » Fri May 25, 2007 6:51 am

abysmillard

Since I have a Quattro I am interested in your taping.. I have zero leaks around his area would you explain where the tape is used or maybe post a picture.. If aroound the end of the tube before youplace the connector over it do you mean around the little ridges that snap inside the quick disconnect tube ? I want to avoid anything like that and with no leaks appears I do not need to but I still ant to know what to watch for

abysmillard · Post by **abysmillard** » Fri May 25, 2007 7:50 pm

ddplep,
I've been looking for a picture I can upload--no luck. But, if you look at your Quattro manual, the pictures in the front,section C, Disassembling for cleaning, picture 3, you can see how the elbow fits in the mask. I am taping the part of the elbow that is inserted into the mask. The tape I am using is the thin, white teflon tape that they sell in hardware stores to replace pipe-compound. It sticks to itself, but nothing else.

If your mask isn't leaking, I'd leave well enough alone, but my mask worked well for a week before it started leaking....

cwsanfor · Post by **cwsanfor** » Sun May 27, 2007 7:53 am

I returned to the Quattro last night, and got typical mediocre AHI results compared to the CF2, and I noticed the leak some have mentioned. If I lightly touch the elbow, it stops, so I regard the mask as being defective. I bet Resmed doesn't, though. Probably will spin it as an Advance Fourth Generation Feature. I'm going to seek a refund. Having to jerry-rig a new $200 mask is absurd.

ddpelp · Post by **ddpelp** » Sun May 27, 2007 8:19 am

cwsanfor,

question.. Did your mask NOT leak at first then develop the leak? If so how long did it take to start leaking? also, had you taken it apart? And how long did you have the mask (ie when did you get it)

reason is my new Quattro like another new one noted on the forum) seems to be perfect!.. Quite.. no leaks at elbow.. I wiggle the elbow and can not get it to leak..
What I wonder is since the one I got was direct from Resmed's rep to my DME could it be possible they have already made some type of design change? I really doubt it and more then likely expect mine to start leaking at some point.. but right now I could not ask for better! My events are down int he 5 night I have used it..

Also, sad to say but I expect Resmed would not replace or fix those in the field just seems the medical business does not really care except for the $$$ I know the sleep lab has changed over to them as they like them for titration guess time will tell.. I have said before in other posts from the start that design seems hummm how do I want to say this.. "less then great <g>"
is there a email or direct Resmed place to let them know the results of their new mask? In the event mine does start to leak I wil let them know
as you guys have done

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abysmillard · Post by **abysmillard** » Sun May 27, 2007 8:44 am

I got the mask on May 9. I remember telling my partner on the morning of May 16 that I had begun to sleep really well and felt great that morning. That day I took the cushion off to clean it and, as I know now, I put it back not quite right. I did not touch the elbow assembly. That night the leak started, along with a squeak when the elbow pivoted in its socket. The squeek stopped a few days later.

I guess the question is design flaw vs defective individual mask. I know that it has a 90 day warranty, so I'm just gonna see what develops over the next few weeks. As I said above, I am otherwise really happy with the mask and don't mind the tweaking if that's what it takes to sleep.

Found out something I didn't know about a full-face mask last night. It's helpful when you have a stuffy nose, but not so when you cough. After blowing it off my face a few times I finished the night with the Swift.

cwsanfor · Post by **cwsanfor** » Sun May 27, 2007 3:05 pm

abysmillard,

I just noticed the leak last night, after about 6 uses, because I heard about the leak here. I think, upon reflection, it was there to begin with, but did not connect the dots until today. I suspect that it is a defect in some of the Rev A molds. I have contacted my vendor, a Resmed Approved Whatever, and they are behaving very responsibly. I got a typically mediocre AHI of 1.8 last night, versus my typical 0.3 from the CF2.

I am leaning toward returning the clearly defective Quattro, primarily because it offers few if any advantages to me over the UMFF or the 432, which I can use to rotate with the better performing (for me) but less comfortable (for everybody, I imagine) CF2.

I am not annoyed with my vendor, who I do not name only out of respect to our host here. I am plenty annoyed at Resmed, and will be more so if they blow this issue off.

I'm also pretty annoyed at myself for my chronic inability to not try every single "Latest Greatest" mask as soon as it is available. I have a mask harem that would cause Dr. Sullivan to blush. I have enough good masks to form a mask basketball team (with one star player, the CF2), and enough marginal ones to form a football team. But I'm sitting here right now considering a Hans Rudolph 7600. I'm sick, I tell you, and I don't mean the apnea.

Jefe · Post by **Jefe** » Tue May 29, 2007 8:57 am

Well, I got my Quattro on Friday morning, and then left to go out of town. I slept with it almost every night, except Sunday, as I could not fall asleep all night. Mine doesn't leak at the elbow.

It does, however, leak on the cheeks. I can feel it blowing, and it drives me nuts. It's not a "bean dip at the superbowl" sounding leak, just a slight wisp of air. I move the mask, I readjust the straps, and it stops, for about 3 minutes, and then starts either in the same place, or in the other eye.

My old 432 didn't leak into the eyes, but it hurt my nose bad, which is why I had to return it to get the quattro. And now I have to live with the Quattro for 3 months. I do know I'm getting more air. My prescribed pressure is 12, and when I get up to full pressure, it blows my mouth open. The 432 didn't, but that's because I usually had air blowing out my chin, and down my neck.

I think I'm going to take it apart & clean it tonight, and I'll see what happens with my elbow. Since it's going to be apart anyway, I'll readjust all the straps, and see what that does.

And BTW, I found mine is actually easier to put on and off with disconnecting both clips, and my forehead pads haven't fallen off once.

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