Initial experience with the Hybrid Mask

nate124 · Post by **nate124** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:02 pm

Although I got my Hybrid 2 weeks back, I discovered that I got the old black headgear. So, I called customer service and they sent me the new grey headgear. I'm glad I called becoz the new headgear is so much better! So, I've been wearing the Hybrid for the past week.

I liked that it comes with all possible sizes in the box. The pillows can also be easily separated so one can use this mask even if one has two different sized nares. I found that the medium pillows and medium oral cushion that were pre-installed on the mask gave a comfortable and leak free fit.

I slept through the night my first time. I have used Swift pillows before which I think helped. The Hybrid pillows are great. I used the pillows in the tall position. These are among the most comfortable pillows I have ever tried (I also use Ayr Gel around my nares to improve comfort and the seal). I like the fact one can separate them and create the angle that fits best.

The Hybrid feels far more minimalist than any other full faced mask (FFM) I have tried or seen. Perhaps this is why it leaks so much less. And because it fits below the nose, there are no leaks around the eyes at all. I had minor leaks around the oral cushion but I eliminated those by tightening the lower straps. Even after doing that, the headstraps didn't feel that tight. I am an occasional mouth breather. I have to admit the Hybrid was much more comfortable than using a pillow mask like the Swift AND a chin strap.

I found that the mask was quieter if the hose was angled downwards. When I tried using the Hybrid with the hose angled downwards, it was one of the quietest masks I have ever used.

Overall, a great product!

Nathan

cpapnewby · Post by **cpapnewby** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 12:39 pm

Nathan,

Do you know if the Hybrid you got is the Adaptive Flow version or not? Are you using an AutoPAP and what are your readings?

Jim

hayeswildrick · Post by **hayeswildrick** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:09 pm

My experience exactly, after my first two nights.

Jeff

nate124 · Post by **nate124** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:55 pm

cpapnewby wrote:Nathan,

Do you know if the Hybrid you got is the Adaptive Flow version or not? Are you using an AutoPAP and what are your readings?

Jim

Jim,
I don't know what exactly is the Adaptive Flow version but I requested the Hybrid with the smaller exhalation holes. I have the Remstar Auto M Series C-Flex. My AHI has been running between 1.6 and 2.3 and the machine is showing a 90% average of 10.5.

Hope this helps.....Nathan

Jaba · Post by **Jaba** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:24 pm

You can bet if your headgear was old, the shell is the old one, too. The new headgear came out before the new advantage shell.
Either way, you got a better mask than anything out there.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:16 pm

Nathan

I am glad you like the Hybrid and that you are are getting good results with it.

Sleeping through the night is no small feat.

Congrats.

betty303 · Post by **betty303** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:08 pm

Can someone describe the difference that the Adaptive Flow makes?

cpapnewby · Post by **cpapnewby** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:20 pm

I believe the Adaptive Flow design helps you achieve a lower AHI especially at higher pressures (greater than 13-14 cm). At least thats what the customer service lady told me when I called.

Jim

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:03 pm

Put simply, the adaptive flow version has smaller exhaust ports.

betty303 · Post by **betty303** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:19 pm

blarg,

I am not clear what smaller holes will facilitate in the actual therapy/experience, etc.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:39 pm

The previous design had a very very large vent rate, to the point where if there any leaks at all, machines tended to have trouble keeping up therapy pressure. Smaller holes bring the mask back down to other masks' flow rates and make large leaks register less.

betty303 · Post by **betty303** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:20 pm

thanks blarg - makes sense.

nate124 · Post by **nate124** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:13 am

Jaba wrote:You can bet if your headgear was old, the shell is the old one, too. The new headgear came out before the new advantage shell.
Either way, you got a better mask than anything out there.

Jaba,
I took my Hybrid to the sleep center yesterday evening. The technician there looked at it carefully and told me that it was the new shell with the smaller exhalation holes. When I asked him if that was the adaptive flow feature, he pretty much said "yes".

The interesting thing he told me was that since the Hybrid vent flow rate was now much lower, autoPAPs were more responsive to the Hybrid than to other FFMs because the Hybrid has less deadspace (i.e. resistance) than other FFMs.

Nathan

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:07 am

blarg wrote:The previous design had a very very large vent rate, to the point where if there any leaks at all, machines tended to have trouble keeping up therapy pressure. Smaller holes bring the mask back down to other masks' flow rates and make large leaks register less.

blarg, my Hybrid has a vent rate around 42-45 for my pressure of 8 to 8.5, so I'm guessing by your comment above that I have the old Hybrid mask shell? Don't have anything to compare the vent holes with to know if they're the smaller or larger ones.

I do have the new headgear, though. Purchased end of February or beginning of March 2007, if that helps any.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:48 am

Weary

this is from my Hybrid manual:

Passive Exhalation Port Flow

for my Hybrid purchaused Fall 2006. I beleive I have the old one.

5 cm approx 30 cm
10 cm approx 48
15cm approx 60