Shallow or Standard---What does this mean?

[sierragail]

I am thinking of buying the Ultra Mirage Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear. I'm looking at the sizes and would like to know if anyone out there can tell me what do they mean by "shallow" and "standard." What are they talking about? I can't seem to find any info on this. Thanks,
sierragail

[Gerryk]

Have you checked the manufacturers web site. They should have a sizing guage there that explains it all. I seem to recall that shallow is for people who have a really small bridge on their nose.

Gerry

[rested gal]

Small, Medium, Large, etc. refer to the size of the mask cushion.

Shallow and Standard refer to shape of the cushion rather than size.

If you bought a Medium Standard and a Medium Shallow in the ResMed Ultra Mirage FF mask, here's the kind of difference you might feel:

Shallow is not be quite as long vertically, from bridge of nose to under the lower lip.

Shallow is also be just a tad wider.

A Standard's inverted V that fits at the bridge of the nose is more like an inverted U on the Shallow -- Shallow fits a tiny bit flatter/wider over the bridge.

All these things I'm mentioning are tiny, tiny differences in the two shapes. But sometimes a tiny difference in the shape of a mask makes quite a difference in comfort and control of leaks. I always got the Shallow...I liked it better than Standard.

A long time ago, one of the posters on this board who had talked on the phone several times with an RN who did phone support for ResMed said the nurse told him words to this effect (not these exact words), "I personally believe the Shallow fits more people better than Standard does, but the word "Standard" sounds like it fits the majority, so Standard is what most people receive."

If a person has a very prominent bridge of nose (beaked nose) he/she would definitely want to get the Standard, which is cut deeper up there.

[sierragail]

Thanks RestedGal. Your explanation was clear and it really helped me. I couldn't really find any useful info at the website to explain the difference. BTW, I modified my Opus 360 using the ideas you posted (with all the lab-rat links) and now this mask is really comfortable for me. The last few nights I've even slept like a rock. I think about you every night when I put it on!

Sierragail

[carbonman]

You be the judge.
These are UM small seals.
The shallow is on the left in each of the pics.
The shallow is very difficult to work with...could never get a consistant seal.
I think I have a med/shallow that I will never use again.
If you want to try it let me know.