Custom-made mask available in Australia

Firstly, congratulations on a great forum! I have been monitoring this site for several months and note the huge number of posts about uncomfortable and leaking masks. I am here to tell you that there is a solution!

Acurest was formed late in 2008 to bring to market the Logical Sleep Mask, a custom made nasal mask made to fit the contours of an individual user's face. This mask has been in development for several years and is shown to reduce problems associated with mask comfort and performance (that are common in all other masks) and to improve compliance rates among users. The Logical Sleep Mask is a different way of thinking about masks - we don't make a mask to fit the "average" face with adjustments to improve the poor fit, we make a mask specifically to fit each client. Our mask only comes in one size: YOUR SIZE.

Each mask is made from an impression of the user's face that needs to be taken at our offices in Brisbane, Australia. I realise that this location is not convenient for many of you, but there are many Aussie users on this forum and many others who just need an excuse to come Down Under! I also know that many CPAP users would do almost anything for a good night's sleep, so this could be of general interest...

I invite you to check out our website: http://www.acurest.com.au for more information and wish you all the best in finding sleep.energy.life

Thanks
Acurest

Acurest wrote:Firstly, congratulations on a great forum! I have been monitoring this site for several months and note the huge number of posts about uncomfortable and leaking masks. I am here to tell you that there is a solution!

Acurest was formed late in 2008 to bring to market the Logical Sleep Mask, a custom made nasal mask made to fit the contours of an individual user's face. This mask has been in development for several years and is shown to reduce problems associated with mask comfort and performance (that are common in all other masks) and to improve compliance rates among users. The Logical Sleep Mask is a different way of thinking about masks - we don't make a mask to fit the "average" face with adjustments to improve the poor fit, we make a mask specifically to fit each client. Our mask only comes in one size: YOUR SIZE.

Each mask is made from an impression of the user's face that needs to be taken at our offices in Brisbane, Australia. I realise that this location is not convenient for many of you, but there are many Aussie users on this forum and many others who just need an excuse to come Down Under! I also know that many CPAP users would do almost anything for a good night's sleep, so this could be of general interest...

I invite you to check out our website: http://www.acurest.com.au for more information and wish you all the best in finding sleep.energy.life

Thanks
Acurest

Very interesting and ambitious. I can only imagine your creativity and innovations would be crushed here in the US by the FDA as a sleep mask is a medical device. Any plans for a full face mask variety as I have too stuffy a nose to breathe exclusively through my nose?

I would bet this is already under development, but you REALLY need to offer a FFM. So many people either mouth breathe or can't breathe thru their nose effectively, and the FFM offers so many more variables that provide a huge potential for necessity of a custom fit.

Thanks for the feedback.

We often get asked if we can provide a FFM version of our nasal mask. The short answer is no. When we sleep the jaw slackens and the chin drops towards the neck. This makes creating a seal around the mouth almost impossible using our technology. However, the answer is not really that simple.

The standard design approach for masks is to try to seal a "box" of pressurised air over the airways. Because of this, every time you take a breath the pressure inside the nose drops relative to the pressure on the outside of the nose. This pressure differential leads to the nostrils collapsing (or constricting) which in turn leads to the mouth opening so that a full breath can be taken. Anyone who reacts this way to a nasal mask will be offered a FFM as the "solution", and anyone who is on a relatively high pressure (say 12cm+) is commonly advised to use a FFM to avoid this potential problem.

Our mask is different. The Logical® Sleep Mask does not create a pressure differential around the nose - air is transferred from the hose directly into the airway. This removes the problems that often lead to needing a FFM in the first place. Because of the custom fit, it also means that even with very light strap pressure the mask is incredibly stable in any sleep position and remains in place when you roll over during sleep. We have many clients who have transitioned from FFMs to our mask with no problems and we have clients using our mask with pressures of over 20cm. If you believe that only a FFM will work for you, then our mask is not going to be an option. But, you need to think about why you "need" a FFM in the first place...

Thanks again for the feedback.

Acurest
sleep.energy.life

Unfortunately, most of us cannot fly to Australia to have the impressions made of our face. Good luck to you in the future in hopes that you have worldwide centers!

Well, I don't know about everyone else... but I can certainly fly to Australia.

Just send me the tickets first.

I really like the concept of custom made masks... who knows maybe this is the future of xPAP.

Acurest wrote:Each mask is made from an impression of the user's face that needs to be taken at our offices in Brisbane, Australia. I realise that this location is not convenient for many of you, but there are many Aussie users on this forum and many others who just need an excuse to come Down Under! I also know that many CPAP users would do almost anything for a good night's sleep, so this could be of general interest...

Well, I have any number of e-friends Down Under, and I'd love to pay your fair continent a visit. (Besides, I'm a writer, and writers will do almost anything to see the places they'd like to write about!)

First, I have to figure out how to afford the airfare.

Second, I have to determine is Australian Customs will let me in, since I use nutriceuticals for pain relief which might fall under the "no plant materials" rule.

Then I have to figure out how to afford your mask.

I second or third the thought that you need a North American office!

The idea of a custom made mask is appealing.............however, I must say when I looked at the photos of the mask being displayed, I truly thought it makes a major statement of a Freudian slip in appearance.........or perhaps I've been diverted to toys.com websites and viewed similiar designs!!!!! It would have to have a different visual for me to consider........I want to sleep when I'm using my APAP! (Perhaps consider the woman response to design).

Yes, it is rather phallic.

But looking at the inside of it, I can definitely see where it might be a great mask for leakage. I'd be tempted to try it, if I could breathe better through my nose.

I see two possible concerns (in my opinion):
1) The forehead footprint is very large, and it makes my forehead sweat just looking at it (we'd need Pad-a-Forehead!!).
2) It doesn't seem like the silicone around the face/nose would be easily replaceable? Does this mean that you'd need to buy a new one fairly frequently?

Anyway, thanks for sharing Acurest. I wish you the best of luck with your business!

Good question about replacing the mask silicone.

The expected life of the Logical® Sleep Mask is three years. Because the materials react with the skin over time, this timeframe will depend in part on your skin type and also on how well you care for the mask (we provide detailed instructions). Because the seal happens at the base of the nose, your face can change quite a bit without disrupting the seal (such as if you lose or gain weight). When you need another mask, we can simply make another one from the original impression/mould...