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[CPAP] ResMed Swift FX vent?
#1
Question 
ResMed Swift FX vent?
I have a (new) ResMed Swift FX nasal pillow headgear. The air tube terminates at the pillow with an elbow that has a "vent". During use, air bleeds out of the vent, which is most annoying.

Can anyone provide some advice on this? What's the point? is this unique to the Swift FX?
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#2
RE: ResMed Swift FX vent?
Hi geoffleach,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
All nasal masks have vent holes so you get constant fresh air.
Hang in there for more answers to your question.
trish6hundred
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#3
RE: ResMed Swift FX vent?
What Trish said. Without those holes you would be rebreathing your exhaled air and CO2. Not good.
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#4
RE: ResMed Swift FX vent?
All masks will have vent holes to allow a constant airflow.

There are typically two questions associated with this. The first is "why". Imagine if those vents were not there, and there was a perfect seal to your face. When you exhale, that exhaled air would go back into your mask and back up the hose for a short distance. When you inhale again, you will be getting that same stale air back. Now, if you add those vent holes at the mask, the constant airflow means that your exhaled air goes out those vent holes and is replaced by fresh air from the machine.

The second question is how those leaks affect the treatment pressure. Without the vents, the machine would pressurize the system and (ignoring your breathing) would simply stop pumping air. With the vents, imagine a car tire with a slow leak. If you add air to the tire at the same rate that air is leaking out of the tire, the tire stays at the same pressure. The same happens with your CPAP system. Again, breathing and EPR complicate the issue somewhat, but the concept remains the same.
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#5
RE: ResMed Swift FX vent?
I see. Makes (choke gasp ...) sense. Thanks to all.
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#6
RE: ResMed Swift FX vent?
The main question is what problems is this venting causing? If the air is blowing into your eyes, this is almost never acceptable or ever tolerable. If this is the case, you are on the journey that we have all been on, and that is the quest for the right mask. While going thru testing many masks, remember you might circle back to one that you previously had eliminated. Then you learn the tricks to make the best of that mask.
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#7
RE: ResMed Swift FX vent?
I have rigged a tube to take the vented air away from me up along the line of the main hose, but you have to be careful in the design - it has to be large enough and smooth enough a curve that there is no turbulence build up in the tube preventing the air from moving and building up co2 pockets.
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#8
RE: ResMed Swift FX vent?
(07-30-2013, 12:17 AM)Mark Risley Wrote: The main question is what problems is this venting causing? If the air is blowing into your eyes, this is almost never acceptable or ever tolerable. If this is the case, you are on the journey that we have all been on, and that is the quest for the right mask. While going thru testing many masks, remember you might circle back to one that you previously had eliminated. Then you learn the tricks to make the best of that mask.
It turns out that my problem was a combination of max pressure and ramp settings that were defaults with the new ResMed S9. And of course that I'm new to the CPAP thing. Also that I had no idea whether the vent was a design feature or that the mask was broken. Funny how user guides never mention the little things. I've got the settings sorted out, and am sleeping like a baby. Thanks
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#9
RE: ResMed Swift FX vent?
(07-30-2013, 03:17 AM)DocWils Wrote: I have rigged a tube to take the vented air away from me up along the line of the main hose, but you have to be careful in the design - it has to be large enough and smooth enough a curve that there is no turbulence build up in the tube preventing the air from moving and building up co2 pockets.

Given the exhaust is under constant positive pressure, does it matter if CO2 pockets build up in the exhaust tube? They will never be inhaled, since the airflow is always away from the mask.

I can see making sure that it doesn't add any significant resistance to the exhaust path, since any back-pressure would reduce the airflow and thereby not necessarily fully evacuate the exhaled breath from the mask.
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#10
RE: ResMed Swift FX vent?
There is always a risk when you redirect air designed to blow freely, but the risk is minimal so long as you give it a good way to get out and not allow much backwash or turbulence.
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