Quattro--some things never change

Guess we've been the lucky ones Vadar
Even with my minor leak issue (cheeks), I wouldnt change it.
As a chronic mouth breather, this mask has been the
best so far (also own the Mirage shallow, use it on occassion)

yorkiemum01 wrote:Guess we've been the lucky ones Vadar
Even with my minor leak issue (cheeks), I wouldnt change it.
As a chronic mouth breather, this mask has been the
best so far (also own the Mirage shallow, use it on occassion)

I agree, it's been a great relief to not be on the perpetual quest for a cpap mask, and I've tried almost ALL of the others!

Good pictures. "A picture is worth a thousand words."

guest:
> but how do you ensure the tape is the right width?

Do mean the width of the tape itself (still on the roll)?
Or the width that you wind onto the elbow?
It doesn't matter. Just wind some on the elbow until it looks like it's enough.

> Do you trim it before or after putting it on, or do you attach the "excess" on the inside?

After you wind enough onto the elbow, just cut off the rest (from the spool).

It's really a lot easier than you appear to be making it. Just wind some onto the elbow and don't worry about it. If it then seems like too little (still get leaks), take it off and put some more on. If it then seems like too much (can't get the elbow back into the mask, take it off and put less on. I've never had either happen to me.

And -- to address the higher level point -- I've used a number of FF masks and the Quattro is the best I've found. So far. Which is not to say it's prefect, nothing is perfect.

My opinion:

I wouldn't give you $.29 cents for it. I paid $239 for mine when I bought it and if you think you got yours before I did, think again, I got it from the first dealer who had it in stock. I reported the leaking elbow here within the first day or two of use. I even called that ole hag Hazel in Poway about the leaking. Most good companies when they get a report like that take your information and tell you they will investigate it and get back to you. Not Resmed, oh we have never heard of that before and you need to go back to your dealer. The only thing the dealer would do is send me another defective mask, why would I want that and pay MORE for shipping towards a lost cause.

They are now selling for $180 or less, if it had performed as advertised they would still be getting $239 for it.

But even at $180 is it overpriced and you should NOT have have to resort to teflon plumbers tape to make it function, it should do that out of the box. If it didn't have the problem I first reported you wouldn't be seeing everyone with plumbers tape trying to make it work. I didn't suggest the plumbers tape, only reported the problem.

One dealer claimed it was a bad batch, well that turned out to be BS as people are still having to use the teflon tape to make it usable.

Once you tape up that elbow you still have a flaky flapper valve especially if you are a shallow breather on low pressure, valve can flip and air bypasses.

They also claimed it was quieter than the UMFF, there is no way if anything it is more noisy than the UMFF. I never had a problem with the UMFF horseshoe exhaust other than it sounding like a bull-frog as you breathe out.

Still doesn't change the fact that the forehead cushion pops out when you go to put on the mask. It is why they recommend you remove both the upper and lower straps to put it on. Who does that? The older UMFF didn't pop out, it has a similar design so why does this one?

But for me that mask didn't work, even once I got everything resolved to make it usable I found it was doing something screwy with exhausting CO2, don't know why but I would wake up feeling really bad, like I had been rebreathing too much CO2. I put on the UMFF for the rest of the night and it was noticeably better therapy wise.

I sold mine for half of what I paid for it, somebody has it here.

My opinion:

I wouldn't give you $.29 cents for it.

Wow ...That's too bad it didn't work for you, Snoredog.

I've had five sent to me so far, as my insurance covers four masks per year at 100% coverage. I'm still having great luck with mine, and the important proof for me is that I've NEVER felt better since starting therapy.

I picked up a Quattro for those nights that I have too much congestion to use my Activa.

It does not control the jaw or cheek variables very well and it needs a very tight fit to keep from leaking. Apart from that I have only been able to get a few hours sleep with it.

I haven't tried any other FFM yet but when the six months is up I'm going to snag another brand and see what happens.

My Quattro works PERFECT! No trouble at all.

sagesteve wrote:My Quattro works PERFECT! No trouble at all.

That's some very Sage advice Steve!

how does one remove the elbow to get the tape on? Mine looks different than the posted pictures. Perhaps the design has been tweaked?

flylow wrote:how does one remove the elbow to get the tape on? Mine looks different than the posted pictures. Perhaps the design has been tweaked?

There were some reports that it had been "tweaked".......haven't heard nearly as many reports of the leaking in recent months.

However, to get it out, you just pull it. You might want to push on it from the inside of the mask as you pull it from the front. The tube of the elbow is slotted (where it goes in the front of the mask) so it can be squeezed (slightly) so it will come out easier.


Den

the elbow does not have the same deep notches the pictures show and I really couldn't get much squeeze out of it and I certainly did not want to force it.

I've been using the Quattro for well over a year ... maybe 2. I've experimented with other masks when they come out but soon go back to the trusty Quattro.

I have < NEVER > experienced any leaking issue with the elbows.

To remove the elbow I give it a twist sideways like I was trying to break it off and it pops right out. Reverse the process to install.

Love the Quattro .... just wish they would put a chin strap on it to keep it from sliding up.

Otherwise it's a perfect mask --- for me.

I got the elbow off but found that two wraps of teflon tape resulted in the elbow not rotating very easily so I took it off. Instead I lubricated with a little superglide at both rotation points. I find that this quiets the elbow and does improve the leak performance. I used to do this every once in a while with the fp432 when the elbow started to get noisey.

Unfortunately, my machine started beeping at me two hours before getting up and I did not sleep well during the rest of the night. My detailed data download only had those last two hours recorded. The leak line was flat and OAI was 0.0.... for what it is worth as I really didn't sleep much during that time.

So far, the Quattro is a very comfortable mask and I do have the pleasure of getting used to it during the midst of a cold (getting up every 30 minutes to an hour to blow my nose). The respiratory therapist had the straps adjusted very loosely. It would seal fine until I start moving around. Two nights and two adjustments and I think I have it right. I also upped the pressure 0.5 cm as I have been having high OAI for the last two weeks.

flylow wrote:I got the elbow off but found that two wraps of teflon tape resulted in the elbow not rotating very easily so I took it off. Instead I lubricated with a little superglide at both rotation points. I find that this quiets the elbow and does improve the leak performance. I used to do this every once in a while with the fp432 when the elbow started to get noisey.

Unfortunately, my machine started beeping at me two hours before getting up and I did not sleep well during the rest of the night. My detailed data download only had those last two hours recorded. The leak line was flat and OAI was 0.0.... for what it is worth as I really didn't sleep much during that time.

So far, the Quattro is a very comfortable mask and I do have the pleasure of getting used to it during the midst of a cold (getting up every 30 minutes to an hour to blow my nose). The respiratory therapist had the straps adjusted very loosely. It would seal fine until I start moving around. Two nights and two adjustments and I think I have it right. I also upped the pressure 0.5 cm as I have been having high OAI for the last two weeks.

Yeah......that's the result of taping it......for awhile. It eventually loosens up and moves a little better.

Your call.


Den

I too have been lucky enough not to have the leak at the elbow yet. I read the tape fix before I bought the Mask, and even with the known leak, I bought one. I Have had my mask about 6 months now. I wipe my mask and swish it in Seventh Generation dish soap each morning but I have to be honest, I do not take it apart to clean it as they recommend. I don't want to risk any leaking because I truly love this mask. I am using a little mole skin to keep my nose from hurting but otherwise this beats my last mask, hands down.