Reason for Vent Holes?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
jimolson52
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Reason for Vent Holes?

Post by jimolson52 » Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:44 am

Why do CPAP masks have vent holes in them? My Resmed masks have huge forward-blowing holes that generate a lot of noise when the air hits my pillow.

Are CPAP engineers using these vent holes to dilute the concentration of CO2 that would build up in front of your face in a pillow alcove if the mask got dislodged from your face?

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Pugsy
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Re: Reason for Vent Holes?

Post by Pugsy » Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:49 am


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onward60
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Re: Reason for Vent Holes?

Post by onward60 » Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:53 am

My understanding is that even a properly fitting mask would cause carbon monoxide (strike) DIOXIDE rebreathing without the vent holes. It's not about the mask getting dislodged.

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Last edited by onward60 on Fri Dec 08, 2023 9:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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dataq1
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Re: Reason for Vent Holes?

Post by dataq1 » Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:21 am

The vent holes are to allow the exhaled air (rich in CO2) to be swept out of the mask. Were it not for this purposeful venting, this CO2 rich air would have nowhere to go except to be inhaled AGAIN and again and again.

The venting system in the Resmed F20 and F30 masks is very quiet, and does not shoot air across the bed and disturb your partner.
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Tec5
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Re: Reason for Vent Holes?

Post by Tec5 » Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:25 am

onward60 wrote:
Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:53 am
My understanding is that even a properly fitting mask would cause carbon monoxide rebreathing without the vent holes. It's not about the mask getting dislodged.
Onward60 misspoke, means dioxide not monoxide.
I am neither a physician nor a lawyer, so DO NOT rely on me for professional medical or legal advice.

onward60
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Re: Reason for Vent Holes?

Post by onward60 » Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:54 pm

Tec5 wrote:
Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:25 am
onward60 wrote:
Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:53 am
My understanding is that even a properly fitting mask would cause carbon monoxide rebreathing without the vent holes. It's not about the mask getting dislodged.
Onward60 misspoke, means dioxide not monoxide.
OOPS! :roll: :lol:

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Conrad
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Re: Reason for Vent Holes?

Post by Conrad » Sat Dec 09, 2023 7:26 am

Tec5 wrote:
Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:25 am
onward60 wrote:
Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:53 am
My understanding is that even a properly fitting mask would cause carbon monoxide rebreathing without the vent holes. It's not about the mask getting dislodged.
Onward60 misspoke, means dioxide not monoxide.
Hey, it's just an extra atom of oxygen, give or take. lol
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chunkyfrog
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Re: Reason for Vent Holes?

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Dec 09, 2023 1:52 pm

I am amazed by the amount of science and mathematics that are utilized
by mask engineers to determine the size and placement of vent holes.
Moreover, I am impressed by the creativity of the ResMed crew in
designing the nearly soundless mesh vents on my p10.

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D.H.
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Re: Reason for Vent Holes?

Post by D.H. » Mon Dec 11, 2023 10:45 am

Yes, you need the vent holes for CO2. However, I do find them annoying. I would want an option to put a hose on the exhaust, and allow it to vent far away. The exhaust can create an issue with noise, temperature, and air blowing in an uncomfortable way.

The noise was especially bad with the first CPAP machine that I got in 1999. It was one of the first (maybe the first) CPAP that had an integrated heated humidifier. It was much noisier that current machines, and the exhaust was noisy in its own right and put off a lot of heat. However, it can still be annoying, even with the most modern machines!

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Reason for Vent Holes?

Post by chunkyfrog » Mon Dec 11, 2023 11:15 am

I have never had that problem.
If it were not for the moisture, venting the warm air
under the covers might be nice.
But----moisture! Eeeeeew!

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