new quattro air mask

I am due for a new mask this month and I want to try the new Quattro air mask from resmed but before I do give it a shot. does anybody currently use one now and if you do can you tell about it its effectiveness like does it leak a lot for example

I have Quattro Air, but as a new user (2 months) it is the only mask I am familiar with. I like the feel of it on my face; it fits well. It does leak, and sounded like a whoopee cushion the first week, until I came here and learned about mask liners. They solved the noise problem completely. I still have some large leaks most nights, according to sleepyhead, but they rarely wake me. The LCD on my machine notes 4% large leak most nights, sometimes zero, but I don't think I've had it show greater than 4% in the 62 days I've been on the hose. I started making my own liners from old t-shirts, washing them by hand and ironing them for shape retention; they work as well as the commercial liners.

springman946 wrote:I am due for a new mask this month and I want to try the new Quattro air mask from resmed but before I do give it a shot. does anybody currently use one now and if you do can you tell about it its effectiveness like does it leak a lot for example

I have ben using the Quattro for many years. Several months ago I tried the Quattro Air. There were things I liked, But, I was using a Medium Quattro and the Large in the Air model was too narrow for me and I could not control leaks.....I'm back to the Quattro

I started using the Quattro Air last fall after deciding that the regular Quattro was really a medieval torture device whose mission it was to eventually erode my nose completely off my face. Since the supplied headgear was way too tight across the top of my head, I adapted a much, much better headgear from the F&P Eson nasal mask and the whole thing has worked beautifully for all these months. No leaks whatsoever, extreme comfort (It's so light you hardly know it's there.) and basically just zero issues. I've replaced the seal about every 60 days.

Now, all of a sudden from out of nowhere when I replaced the seal about 3 weeks ago, I began having leak issues in one spot on the right side of my nose. I tried older seals that were known good at the time I retired them, and the leak occurs in the same spot! So I have no idea what has gone awry, but I'm going to try the following things, in this order:

1.) A completely new seal
2.) A new headgear, in case the original one has stretched
3.) Finally a new mask frame in the event this one has developed a hairline crack or has warped somehow.

It was just too good for too long for me not to exhaust every effort to get that performance back.

Be advised that the Quattro Air does run about one size smaller than most other FFMs, including it's Quattro brethren. If you take a medium in the Quattro, get a large in the Air. I actually need an extra large but they don't make them. Be aware also that the Quattro Air seal is a little different from other ResMed FFM seals in that it's more opaque, looking almost like frosted glass. It's clearly a different material, and in my experience it performs best when removed and washed every morning with warm water and baby shampoo. By the way, it's the easiest seal to remove and reinstall of any mask I've tried. Actually, the entire mask is very user friendly. It's especially easy to put on just by dropping a pre-looped headgear end over a post. That's it, no fumbling around trying to hook up snap connectors.

I think you'd like it and wish you luck. In the end though, finding a FFM that works for you is a personal journey. It's easier for some than others, but you must either get really lucky or commit to persevere.

I was using the Mirage Quattro, tried the Air, more leaks around the eyes for me, I'm back to the Mirage ... I do have a Anew at home that arrived Saturday, I'm gonna try that when I get home next weekend ... Free return insurance!

I have used all the quattro masks over the years. I have had issues on and off with the Air. I will go months without a problem, changing nothing and then start getting leaks like crazy. Currently on one of those. Four nights in a row with un smiling faces. Were not home so I can't check sleepyhead.

When this mask works its great other times it drives me nuts. I had good luck with the mirage and regular quattro but forehead rest gave me a headache every night.

I think I like the FX the best of all on these masks and had the best leak rates with it. I'm planning to go back to it next mask.

My favorite mask so far is the Tap pap, but my AHI's are over 12 when I use that mask.

Good luck on your search.

Been using the Quattro Mirage Med. for 4 years. Wanting to try something new I ordered the Air Lg. It has leaked around my eyes and chin and I cannot get it to stop. Disappointed. Back to my old faithful...good luck in finding your mask.

I use the quattro air. I found that it has a learning curve to get it to quit leaking.

My pressure is pretty high at 16, so the leaks were a problem at first. I can't use the ramp function because the mask leaked when the pressure increased.

I have the straps fairly tight, not so tight to cause red marks but tighter than the instructions call for. When I get a leak I can quickly reposition the mask and stop the leak. I don't get into large leaks according to the machine.

Gary

My hubby used the Quattro Air for a few months & was not able to conquer the leaks. He has switched to the Full Life mask by Respironics & its the first mask he's had with no leaks.

One (expensive) problem with the Air for him was the headgear. He wore a large & the headgear was stretched & raveling after 2 weeks. In the months he wore it I bought several extra headgear before I found that seeing a flexible zig-zag stitch around the edges before it began raveling helped some. To do that wear a couple of nights 1st, then sew.

Leaks haven't been my issue (but my machine is automatic and the CP is at 10), But the first night, I put the hose back in but at an angle, even though it clicked, and it was doing something very similar to what you described. Since, no leaking issues, but the silicone has caused the skin on my cheeks to go red (alongside my nose) in under 2 weeks. I've got an Amara gel now, going to give it a trial run tonight. If not, the cotton pads will go onto the Quatro Air. Either way, I'll post about the results.

JT

I have used cpap for almost 20 years now. I have tried all the other quattro masks, and dozens of others. I easily have 5k in masks I don't use because I could not stop the leaks or the headaches were so terrible or various other reasons. I wore an older mirage, that worked fairly well, but when they updated it, I could not longer get the new models to seal. I now have used the quattro air for about 2.5 years. My pressure ramps from 16-20. I went from larges in the other masks to a medium in this model. It isn't perfect, but it is pretty damned good at getting a seal. If you move certain ways, you can get it to leak, sitting up and leaning over will make it leak laying certain ways will make it leak, but overall, my numbers are amazingly good each time they check them at follow up appointments.
Now for the negatives.
You have to pull the straps way too tight in my opinion for the seal. The style keeps it from being painful somehow, but it is uncomfortable sometimes, and it does leave some deep indentations. I believe the marks are permanent on my forehead now, but my heart rate, blood pressure, and overall health are greatly improved, so I guess that balances it all out. Better to lose a little in the looks department and gain a few healthy years in my opinion, but not all may feel that way.
The mask hooks on the lower portion are stupid. I get that they had an idea and it does have merit, however it is a major weak spot in the mask. I have to draw the straps so tight that it flexes the material because it is not attached at the top. If you adjust your mask frequently, or you move in the wrong ways while sleeping, you can push the strap up to the outer edged, and it will flex quite a bit. It will eventually break off at the lower point.
You can't buy only the frame portion of the mask, which is ridiculous because that is the part that breaks.

Overall, this is still my only mask I can utilize. It is a good mask, if they would make the attachment point secure on top and bottom for lower straps, increase the depth of the cushions for better sealing, and make the upper portion that digs into your forehead so that the pressure was spread out over a larger area, this would be the ultimate mask in my opinion.