I am reposting this here, which I originally put under the List of Sleep Apnea Masks available in the market sticky thread.

This may be my first post in this forum :)  Exactly how are these mask categories defined, in the List of Sleep Apnea Masks available in the market?  Specifically, what is the difference between Nasal Masks and Nasal Pillows?  I am comparing my preferences for Aeiomed Headrest, and the Respironics Optilife.  Why are they in two different groups?  Is this just the way the companies classify them or is there some accurate definitions based on clearly distinguishable features?

Cordially, TruthSeeker

A nasal mask covers the entire nose.  Nasal pillows only touch the nostril snares.  I have used the Optilife, but I found Resmed's Swift LT to work better for me.  These are both nasal pillows.  I'm not familiar with the Aeomed Headrest, so I can't comment or categorize that mask.


_________________
REMStar Pro M w/ c-flex and heated humidifier
ResMed Swift LT nasal pillow
Encore View Software
12 cm H20, 13 cm H20
CPAP start date: June 4, 2008

Interesting as I thought/think that the Aeiomed Headrest is the nasal pillows type interface that has gone thru several name changes.

My understanding is that there are the full face cushion masks, the nasal cushion masks, the nasal pillows masks that also includes the nasal prongs and nasal seals and then the "hybrid" types that combine nasal pillows w/a mouth piece or cushion.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

I just took a look at the list. The Breeze is also a nasal pillows style so I think the listings are made two ways: by manufacturer and by style, not all got listed both ways and that is what is confusing the issue for you.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo, Yawn,

Both of your comments makes sense to me, and that was how I was thinking too.  The Headrest is listed as a nasal mask in the listing in this forum, that is what triggered my curiosity.  I think I have seen it referred to this way in other places too.  The official manual of Headrest refers to it as a 'nasal seal', another term :) .  I think both are really nasal cushions.

Now I can now guess why the Headrest is mis categorized often.  If you look at t picture of it, it looks like it covering the whole nose, because the two tubes leading to the cushions come from the top and go down surrounding the nose.  Actually only the cushions touch the nostril.

Yawn, thanks for the additional comment about Swift LT.  That is what I wanted to find next; the other cushions which are close to these two.  I sort of like both, but next want to test similar other ones just in case they may be better to my liking.  Here is a picture of the Headrest.

[Commercial link deleted.  Please review posting guidelines]

Which other ones have the tube going up, and not obstructing the cheek sides (I am a side sleeper), and ideally the vent is upwards so it does not blow on your spouse?

Nasal seals, nasal pillows and nasal prongs are all similar and considered one style.

Nasal cushions are a triangular shape, much like a full face, except they cover only the nose, not nose and mouth.

Full face are triangular in shape and cover both nose and mouth.

Then there are the "hybrid" style that consist of a combination of some form of nasal "pillows" and some form of mouth "cushion".

The Aeiomed Headrest is a NASAL PILLOWS style of mask.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

I too am a side sleeper and had fair success with the Optilife, but found the Resmed Swift LT on an auction site (new) for a very reasonable price and picked it up in my quest for a better setup.  I like it much better and the hose goes on top of the head which is a whole lot easier to turn on my other side.  It is less likely to leak than the Optilife during the night, but not infallible.  Only problem with it is that it vents directly out from your face, so it might bother your spouse if you are in close proximity with your head pointed toward theirs.  This brouchure http://www.resmed.com/en-us/assets/documents/product/swift_lt/patient_brochure/1012407_swift-lt_patient-brochure_usa_eng.pdf will give you an idea of fitment.


_________________
REMStar Pro M w/ c-flex and heated humidifier
ResMed Swift LT nasal pillow
Encore View Software
12 cm H20, 13 cm H20
CPAP start date: June 4, 2008

Yawn wrote:

I too am a side sleeper and had fair success with the Optilife, but found the Resmed Swift LT on an auction site (new) for a very reasonable price and picked it up in my quest for a better setup.  I like it much better and the hose goes on top of the head which is a whole lot easier to turn on my other side.  It is less likely to leak than the Optilife during the night, but not infallible.  Only problem with it is that it vents directly out from your face, so it might bother your spouse if you are in close proximity with your head pointed toward theirs.  This brouchure http://www.resmed.com/en-us/assets/documents/product/swift_lt/patient_brochure/1012407_swift-lt_patient-brochure_usa_eng.pdf will give you an idea of fitment.

Thanks.  I looked at it.  That site did not say anything about the exhaust air direction.  But another place I had read that the air goes downward, as in normal breathing.  If that is the case, it wont be directed at your spouse.  But you say it goes straight away from you just like the optilife?   Now, the direction of outflow air change as one rotate the tube around the mask?  Is that tube more/less flexible than the optilfe?  The optilife was a bit too stiff.  Hope it is longer.  I like most of the features so far, except the air flow.  For the Aeiomed Headrest, the air flows straight up towards the top of the head, and that is the best feature of that!!

The hose can rotate around the mask on the Swift LT.  As you know. on the Optilife it is fixed.  That was my biggest problem with the Optilife is that the hose was always in the way.  Having it above your head is not without problems, but I find it's not in the way.


_________________
REMStar Pro M w/ c-flex and heated humidifier
ResMed Swift LT nasal pillow
Encore View Software
12 cm H20, 13 cm H20
CPAP start date: June 4, 2008

Yawn wrote:

The hose can rotate around the mask on the Swift LT.  As you know. on the Optilife it is fixed.  That was my biggest problem with the Optilife is that the hose was always in the way.  Having it above your head is not without problems, but I find it's not in the way.

Yawn, you may have forgotten to answer my question.  Does the flow goes in the opposite direction to hose?  That is when the hose is routed through the top of your head, does the air go towards your chest or straight away from you?  I am used to the hose on top of my head, that is how the Aeiomed Headrest is (There is url to that picture in one of my earlier post just above here.)

If you go back to the brochure, look at the second page, far picture to the right.  You will see the exhalation ports (many tiny holes) on the end of the swiveling elbow.  It is not a concentrated port, but depending on your air pressure, the air does become dispersed with some distance.  Depending on how the mask is adjusted, the air will be directed somewhere around 30 degrees from the horizontal if you were standing with the mask with your head looking forward.  So it is slightly downward.  We have a king size bed and my wife hasn't complained about air blasting in her face yet.  I hope this helps.


_________________
REMStar Pro M w/ c-flex and heated humidifier
ResMed Swift LT nasal pillow
Encore View Software
12 cm H20, 13 cm H20
CPAP start date: June 4, 2008

Yawn wrote:

If you go back to the brochure, look at the second page, far picture to the right.  You will see the exhalation ports (many tiny holes) on the end of the swiveling elbow.  It is not a concentrated port, but depending on your air pressure, the air does become dispersed with some distance.  Depending on how the mask is adjusted, the air will be directed somewhere around 30 degrees from the horizontal if you were standing with the mask with your head looking forward.  So it is slightly downward.  We have a king size bed and my wife hasn't complained about air blasting in her face yet.  I hope this helps.

Yawn, Thank you.  I can see the holes in that picture, but not very clear or its direction. In your above description I assume 'when standing with the tube going to the top of your head the air goes down 30 deg from the horizontal'?  It looks like the holes are on the swivel part.  So, the air flow direction will change with the position of the hose direction, right?

What pressure do you run at?  (Since the feel of air stream at a distance will depend on the pressure.)

I have not located a spec for this online. Could you kindly look this up for me?
(a) What is the leak lpm at 6, 10, 14 cm of pressure?
(b) How much is the dead air space ?
(c) Do they provide any spec for the noise at some pressure?

TruthSeeker wrote:

So, the air flow direction will change with the position of the hose direction, right?

That's right.  My pressure is 13 cm h2o.  I have leak rates somewhere for that mask, I'll locate it and post.  There is very little dead air space, similar to the optilife.  I'm not sure if I've seen any specs for noise, but it is very quiet, much like the optilife.  I'll also PM you a link that has better pics, that can't be posted in the open forums.


_________________
REMStar Pro M w/ c-flex and heated humidifier
ResMed Swift LT nasal pillow
Encore View Software
12 cm H20, 13 cm H20
CPAP start date: June 4, 2008

According to ResMed's info, the noise level is 25 db, which is very low.  The leak rates are as follow:
Pres  Flow
cm    l/min
4       20
8       28
12     33
16     38

I'll PM a link for some other pics.


_________________
REMStar Pro M w/ c-flex and heated humidifier
ResMed Swift LT nasal pillow
Encore View Software
12 cm H20, 13 cm H20
CPAP start date: June 4, 2008

Yawn wrote:

According to ResMed's info, the noise level is 25 db, which is very low.  The leak rates are as follow:
Pres  Flow
cm    l/min
4       20
8       28
12     33
16     38

I'll PM a link for some other pics.

That looks very good!  The noise is good!.  I wanted something with higher out port flow (leak), because it does for a better CO2 removal. Now I am very interested to try one :)  When you PM me, could you please also include how much you end up paying for that at the auction?  Thank you for all the many times you answered all my questions precisely.  Very glad to join this forum!!