Bravo, Opus and Optilife Comparisons

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 10:51 am

This year we have seen a new crop of lightweight Nasal Pillow systems hit the marketplace. Since I can't get my mask addiction under control I figured I would share my experiences for those who are thinking about trying these new ones. Everything here is my personel opinion and your impressions may vary.

Things they have in common:

The head gears are basically the same with varitions in width. They consist of a top strap and one that goes behind your head and wings that go over your cheeks riding under your ears.

They all have soft silicone pillows with different ways of adjusting them.

All are some variation of the Swift design, with pillows and a soft silicone chamber that rests against your upper lip.

All are very quiet and work well with side sleeping.

Optilife

Pros - Very light weight and it is easy to adjust the angle of the pillows. The attaching hose is light weight. Very thin wings which are cooler on yoru face and don't mark your cheeks much.

Cons - Front exhaust blows directly out. Connecting hose is fixed from the mask and leads down the chest, limiting over the head board hose management.

Opus

Pros - Again light weight. Has a swivel joint that allows easier hose management from any direction. The exhaust is on the elbow and is better dispersed so doesn't blow out the front as much. Thin wings. Light attaching hose. Very soft pillows.

Cons - Pillow adjustment is only by headgear. No angle adjustment. Since the headgear can move this might cause minor leaks while sleeping.

Bravo

Pros - Easy pillow adjustment with rotating angle like the Swift. May use different size pillows for each nostril.

Cons - Wider wings with generate more cheek heat. Heavy silicone hoses which double the weight of the mask. Slightly harder silicone pillows. Hose connections stick out from the mask which may dislodge the seal during side sleeping. Front exhaust.

For me the winner was the Opus because of the hose management. I route it over the headboard and allow it to free float. While it doesn't seal quite as well as the others because of the lack of adjustment. Generally it stays in place and I have had good numbers with it. The pillows required no
breaking in time for my nostrils. I have not had to switch it out for my Activa to give my nose a rest.

Optilife comes in a very close second. It is even lighter, but the hose tugging bothered me. Like the Opus I could even forget I had it on. The pillows did take some nostril break in and I did have to do trading out after about 2 weeks of use.

Bravo is great if you are moving from a Swift. The mask is light but the hose moves this out of the lightweight category. Hose managment is better than the Swift but no where near the Opus. The seal on it was better for me than the others because I used a large for one nostril and a medium for the other. But I had to strap it down alot tighter to keep it in place because of the wide hose attachment and the heavy hose tugging. It reminded me of the Swift primarily because I started getting sores on my nostrils after the first night.

Hope this helps.

In the interest of full disclosure, I bought the Opus and Bravo with my own funds. I was part of product testing for the Optilife and did not purchase it on my own.

gasp · Post by **gasp** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:30 am

mikemoran wrote: Hope this helps.

Fabulous! I wondered about the Opus. Since I get a mask every 6 months, as a newbie I thought I'd give a nasal pillow mask a try for my next replacement. That way I'll have a nasal mask (Comfort Gel) and nasal pillow.

Aside from not being able to exhale well enough with the nasal pillow masks I tried in titration, I really didn't like my nose being tugged upward. I'm getting an A-flex that will hopefully help with being able to exhale through the nasal pillows.

Does the Opus tug your nose upward?

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:37 am

Mike, great post.
My wife says the plastic wings dig into her cheeks with her new optilife. How have you overcome that?

muld00n · Post by **muld00n** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:37 am

Opus

Pros - Again light weight. Has a swivel joint that allows easier hose management from any direction. The exhaust is on the elbow and is better dispersed so doesn't blow out the front as much. Thin wings. Light attaching hose. Very soft pillows.

Another Pro for the Opus is the ease of cleaning the pillows. Simply remove them from the swivel joint housing take the to the sink and wash them every morning. At night simply push the pillows back onto the housing a grab some zzzzzzzz's.

I really like mine.
Steve

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:45 am

Hey Mike, great post, as always!

Wanna sell me your Bravo?

Cheers,
Barbara

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:05 pm

Neverbetter,
Padacheek is working on a pad for the wings of the opti. I have the same problem with them digging in. You can PM her and let her know you are interested in them.

Brenda

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:27 pm

Really have no cure for the Nike swift marks on the cheek. The Bravo with the wider wings shows less. For me the marks go away after about an hour. Padacheek has the best solution if you feel them digging in.

Sorry Babette, my brother just started on the hose so he gets my discards.

As far as tugging the nose upward, this only happens if you route the hose over your head and then only if the hose gets stuck. this hasn't been a problem for me. Just make sure you don't tighten the top strap to much. With the Opus I actually loosened the strap and the pillows inflate for the seal. One of the reasons I haven't had sore nostrils.

The Optilife pillows are as easy to clean as the Opus. The Bravo is a little more involved.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose, swift

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose, swift, seal

Snoozing Gonzo · Post by **Snoozing Gonzo** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:50 pm

Very helpful, thank you.

I am also an Activa user that would like to find something lighter and smaller if it can deliver solid, painless results.

Upon your earlier review and having my deductable and out of pocket paid, I checked in with my DME to try out an Opus. They couldn't make it fit without large leaks and so wouldn't sell it to me or even let me take it home for me to keep after it.

As a back-up, I went back and asked to take an Optilife demo run and they agreed as they could get it fit without major leaks. Unfortunaltely, they only would send small and medium cushions home. I have not spent a lot of time adjusting but have not been able to fit the Optilife so it didn't roll out of place each time I moved.

I have a week to decide so I'll make a more concerted effort on adjusting the Optilife and keep an eye out for a good deal on an Opus to try out for myself.

Thanks again for your always insightful reviews.

Chris

JFMARSHA · Post by **JFMARSHA** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:41 pm

Mike,
Thanks for that very helpful comparison. I am considering moving to a pillow mask system and am considering these 3 plus the Swift.

One issue I have seen raised on this site by others is the efficiency of CO2 ventilation by these pillow masks, especially those with small chambers.

Since I did not see you address that issue, can you clarify whether you thought that one or another of these (Opus, Bravo, Optilife) vented better than others?

Related point--was one easier to exhale against than the others.

Thanks,

John

jasper · Post by **jasper** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 5:58 pm

Mike, Thanks for a great comparison. I have a mask addiction too, but having started CPAP just last August, I only have 4 masks (and only one of them a pillows system - the Optilife). What you say about the extra dimples is true, but not intolerable. The only comment I would add to your thorough evaluation is that the hose management clip is a must for me, as described in the directions. Otherwise it's great. It has replaced the Activa as my favorite, and it's so light it doesn't bother me a bit.

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:28 pm

JFMARSHA

As far as air flow and exhaust they all seemed the same to me. Took the same effort to breath against all of them and not significantly different from my nasal masks. But then again the people on this board will tell you I am a bit of a blow hard.

Really, I have never had difficulty exhaling agaisnt any mask. My APAP is a Resmed S7 Spirit so I haven't had the luxury of C-Flex. I can also say that CO2 build up has never been a problem either.

new2 · Post by **new2** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:42 am

The hybrid has the best co2 flow of anything I have ever used except Nasal-Aire II. NAII is the most underated mask on the market. Fantastic, fantastic, mask, bar none (except for mouth breathers)

Bravo, Opus and Optilife Comparisons

Bravo, Opus and Optilife Comparisons

Re: Bravo, Opus and Optilife Comparisons

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Additional Comments: Pursleep, Padacheek, Regenesis™ Pillow, Neti Pot, Travel Buddy hose hanger