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From: Harlan Lachman on 11 Dec 2005 20:57
Getting ready to go out of town so I won't be able to respond to follow
up questions for awhile but wanted to post these.

Members of our AWAKE group completed their evaluations of Tiara Medical
Systems' Snapp Mask. Thought this group would like a look at the
positive and negative unedited responses (though I did remove
identifying information --(I hope):

Tiara Snapp:

A. First impressions: We both went home and the next night we
tried our new masks and they fix rather quickly. Wife had tried a nasal
mask before. I had tried several. My first impression was GREAT! Woke
up next morning with no nasal soreness. The mask adjusts quickly and
easily so no leaks prevail. I have tried both over the head and regular
way on this mask and find it useful both ways.
B. Impressions over time: Both wife and I are still wearing this
mask. We both like it. The air vent is bothersome as it makes a noise
and is forceful. Wife likes hers as she has worn it every night also.
I change back and forth with wearing over my head and down on the hose.
Wife really likes hers as she now has not encountered a problem lying on
her stomach with the mask. She now uses her humidifier and says that
she does not get the heat and moisture as she did with other face masks.
C. We both like the ease of get the mask on and off. Cleans easy,
and is easy to put together.
D. I do not like the one air hole vent. They need to improve this.
Also I notice the could move the face pads back on the check bones.
E. This is the best mask we both have tried in 3 years. We both
love the gentle nose pads.
F. Very little leaks with this mask. Comfort is very positive, no
marks on face in morning.
G. Highly recommend this product

FEEDBACK REPORT

MANUFACTURER: Tiara Medical Systems

PRODUCT: Tiara Snapp Mask

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Unfortunately, I initially had very much the same
feelings as Harlan about the Snapp mask. It too bothered my nares and in
fact still does. I also didn?t like the air vent. I woke up repeatedly
trying to adjust it and for air leakage around my nose and due to
discomfort on my nose.

IMPRESSIONS OVER TIME: I also use it with the tubes going over the back
of my head. When the mask is adjusted properly it works well and is very
quiet. Unfortunately, it needs to be tightened so much that it all the
above problems are present very much.
I still haven?t found a happy medium between tightness and air leakage
and end up readjusting almost every night. I also am unsure where each
head strap should actually be on my head during the night. I?m still
playing with that each night also. However, I do sleep fairly well with
only a few awakenings each night with this unit.

I ESPECIALLY LIKED: I like how quiet it is and how it lets me sleep on
my side. My wife also likes it?s quietness as the number of times she is
awakened is reduced in comparison with other masks I?ve used (2 others).
Cleaning is fairly easy and it seems fairly easy to put on although it?s
a race to get it positioned before my Cpap unit kicks on in high mode
causing a great rush of air. I like the basic softness of the pillows
even though as I mentioned I have to tighten them so much that cause
soreness. I like how I can make the tubes go up over my head vs down my
chest and in the way of my hands all night.

I DID NOT LIKE: I don?t like how tight I have to make it to stop all air
leakage. I also don?t like how the small air vent blows the air straight
down. I tend to sleep with my hands up near my face and the air blows
directly onto them and is actually cold, bothersome and noisy when the
air hits something that is close by like my hands or blanket. I do get
frustrated by having to continue to fiddle with the fit each night.

COMPARISON TO SIMILAR PRODUCTS: I?ve tried another mask that has nasal
pillows and have found that I like the other pillows better but I like
the overall feel of the Snapp unit. The other unit was more cumbersome
as it was made of hard plastic and didn?t allow me to sleep on my side
very well. The Snapp?s pillows could be better if I didn?t have to
tighten the unit so much.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS MASK TO OTHERS: I am not very experienced with
a lot of masks but overall would recommend this mask, at least over the
other one I have tried.

Tiara Snapp

I did not have any luck with this mask. I could not get it to stop
leaking. I gave up on it and went back to my nasal mask. I will be glad
to drop this off to the clinic if they want it. I still have trouble
with my original leaking. The pillow style is my next try.



FEEDBACK REPORT

MANUFACTURER: Tiara Medical Systems

PRODUCT: Tiara Snapp mask

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I have never been able to use pillows before because
they hurt my nares and/or the noise drives me nuts. The first time I
tried the Snapp I had no initial pain at all. After about 5-6 hours I
woke up and my nares were sore so I removed the mask. I also noticed
that for me, it took a while to adjust the mask to prevent leaks. I am
curious what will happen the next time I try it. I would probably also
note that I ended up using the tube in the overhead the head position,
the only mask other than the Breeze Once I got the mask set right, there
were leaks (although the noise through the single vent sometimes made me
think there were. This mask is noisier than many I have tried but not
enough to keep me awake. And I wish the single vent was one of those
that used multiple, tapered access holes so it was less noisy.

IMPRESSIONS OVER TIME: I have learned by trial and error how to fit this
mask. For me, I use the hose over the top to relieve pressure on the
nares (by pulling more hose out from the Velcro. Putting the hose on the
top allows me to loosen the Velcro holding the mask up against my nares
which eliminates all pressure without the threat of leaks.

I still wish I could redirect the exhaust vent, I have to sleep with my
arms under the blankets (something I dont usually do). But I am much
less bothered by the noise. Leaks are not an issue with this mask even
though I am an active side sleeper. I really like how the sides are done
(compared to the ResMed Swift which only lets one sleep on one side).

This mask has replaced my Respironics Comfort Curve as my second mask. I
like it a lot.

I ESPECIALLY LIKED: I like the ease of getting the Snapp on and off.
Cleaning it is a dream. No pieces to remove or lose (just remove the
head gear and wash). First and only pillow style mask I can use.This
seemed like a simple, elegant design to me.

I DID NOT LIKE: Mostly I wish I could remove the headgear from the mask
with clips (set it and forget it), adjust the direction of flow of
exhaust air (all it would take is a small rotating piece of snap on
plastic) and multiple, tapering holes to reduce the noise.

Although the unit takes up very little space while traveling, it is so
long it doesnt fit except at an angle in the largest zippable plastic
bags we have. I also wish there were a way to know the mask is fit
correctly (as one can tell by the ResMed Activa). If I get up in front
of a mirror, I can now tell, but late at night in bed it is still a
little trial and error.


COMPARISON TO SIMILAR PRODUCTS: The Snapp is much simpler and more
elegant than the Breeze and Comfort Light headgear (it has no hard
plastic which can be painful or break). For me, it was also more
comfortable on the head. I was able to comfortably get the pillows to
seal for the complete night, the only pillow like mask where this has
happened.


WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE SLEEP LAB RECOMMEND THIS MASK TO OTHERS:
Absolutely. I would rank this just behind the ResMed Activa and ahead of
all the other pillow style masks I have seen. A great little mask that I
now use each week.

FEEDBACK REPORT

MANUFACTURER: Tiara medical systems

PRODUCT: Tiara Snapp mask

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I on the night of our November meeting November 9,
2005. This is only the second mask I have used since I started sleep
therapy in March this year (2005). My first mask was a half face mask. I
had difficulty getting the mask on properly so as to stop leaks. This
difficulty was experienced at the meeting when Phil first put the mask
on me. I was able subsequently to get everything working properly by
making a very tight fit. The mask functioned properly when I lay on my
back or on my left side. It leaked profusely when I lay on my right
side. I must note that I dont do so well lying on my right side with or
without a mask. Noise levels were satisfactory when there were no leaks
but this hiss of big leaks woke me up as if to get me to attend to the
problem. I decided to sleep on my back the rest of the night and was
fine. There was no initial soreness in my nares but when I woke up in
the morning, my nares hurt tolerably. This was counterbalanced by
clearness in my breathing never before noticed. I usually would feel a
blocking in my respiratory system which was alleviated but my prescribed
half face mask. This nasal mask is THE CURE for my nasal blockages.
Right now at nearly 4:00 PM on Sunday December 11, 2005, I have a
beautiful clearness and a sensation of freshness in my nostrils as I
breathe in and out. This is most exciting! I however feel the vestiges
of pain in my nares but this is quite tolerable.

IMPRESSIONS OVER TIME: Use of snapp over time did not alleviate leaks
and the remnants of pain in the nares. The major problem is getting a
good fitting at the start. Sometimes I get the feeling that maybe there
mask opening in the right nostril is blocked. I would then test this by
pinching the right tube to check that I could feel the resultant
deprivation of air. Leaks as a result of sleeping on my right side still
persist. However, I discovered last night that if I didnt set the
fitting too tight, it was not only easier to get things started but this
also reduced leaks and pain considerably. Interestingly leaking also
stopped when I lay on my right side. However, leaking resumed on my
right side after tossing and turning during the night. I believe the
mask works better when it is not set too tight. It should be set just
tight enough as it seems to FEEL TIGHTER with time. The overhead
position is not good for me as it makes sleeping in any position
difficult since parts of the tubing always get in the way. I only tried
using this position once.

I ESPECIALLY LIKED: I especially liked the head strap once I understood
its working. The mask gets tighter as you move the front head strap
backwards. In fact both the front and the back straps loosen the mask
fitting when moved forwards. The back strap tends to keep the mask in
place while the front strap pulls it in reducing leaks. I especially
like the air blowing directly into my nares clearing the air passages
and indeed my whole head feels clearer! For this reason I would like
Tiara to find ways of making this product more usable by each patient.

I DID NOT LIKE: The fitting problems. The leaks and the residual pain
involved in getting a good fit that would solve the leak problems.

COMPARISON TO SIMILAR PRODUCTS: The only mask I have tried before is the
half face mask that was prescribed for me by the Sleep Center. The
advantage of my earlier mask over this mask is the ease in fitting and
use. The earlier mask could easily be adjusted not to leak. It is
however bulkier than snapp and could more easily be damaged by breaking
or otherwise than snapp. Snapp is easier to wash and package for
traveling.

FINAL COMMENTS ON NOISE, LEAKS, FIT, COMFORT: See above

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE SLEEP LAB RECOMMEN THIS MASK TO OTHERS? : Yes.
This mask should be recommended for use especially as it helps clear
sinuses and such problems. It also seems to give much more energy to the
user. I used this mask the night before driving to Dayton, OH from
Northfield VT, a drive of at least 16 hours. I did the trip in one
stretch without feeling sleepy not even once! This mask has vibrant
effect. When I need to be awake for long hours the next day, this is the
mask I must use in spite of the drawbacks mentioned above.

--
To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?
From: TigerLily on 11 Dec 2005 21:18
"Harlan Lachman" <hlachman(a)adelphia.net> wrote in
message .com...

a lot of spam snipped

> --
> To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?
figures! lol


From: Harlan Lachman on 16 Dec 2005 12:52
In article <40453oF18fvhjU1(a)individual.net>,
"TigerLily" <me(a)privacy.net> wrote:

> "Harlan Lachman" <hlachman(a)adelphia.net> wrote in
> message .com...
>
> a lot of spam snipped
>
> > --
> > To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?
> figures! lol

I thought this was a NG interested in OSA and its treatment. Members of
a local AWAKE chapter evaluated a product and in their own words said
what they liked and didn't like about it.

How is this SPAM?

Harlan

--
To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?
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