Can a Hypoallergenic-Filter Change Reported Mask-Leak?

[JerryG]

I suffer from Nasal allergies, so replaced the original air filter in my AirSense 10 with an AG hypoallergenic air-inlet filter 3 nights ago.  I've since gotten 2 "red faces" for high leaks! 

I'm not looking for a complete analysis of my leaking just yet -- it tends to be high, but never before red-face high.  

At this point I'm asking only if anyone has experienced, heard of, or can think of a mechanism that would explain how a hypoallergenic filter could effect reported mask leak?  

I'm going back to a standard filter tonight, expecting -- hoping-- my sleep report will go back to my usual.  I'm wondering if I should try another filter brand (ResMed), or just forget about the hypoallergenic thing for now.  Allergy season is almost over.  

Thanks. Jerry

[Sleeprider]

"Hypoallergenic" is a meaningless label that merely suggests the filter media is manufactured from materials that re not generally associated with allergies. It is not a measure of filtration efficiency or capability to exclude allergens. There is no test or criteria for using this term, whether it refers to a vacuum cleaner, a Golden Doodle pet, or a CPAP filter. I have no idea why a filter would cause a higher leak rate to be reported by your flow sensor in the Resmed Autoset, but I can tell you that there is no advantage to using an after-market filter labeled as hypoallergenic.

[SarcasticDave94]

If it's a generic filter of any type, it's possible it could throw off air flow in some way that it might give you that red smiley face. If that's the case, you could try true ResMed manufactured ones. My COPD and allergy like symptoms are probably not like yours, but I have only ran with standard filters. As you say, you could swap a standard one in and see what happens.

[Crimson Nape]

Adding to Sleeprider's advice;  I've found these filters further restrict incoming air flow to the CPAP.  Because of this restriction, the CPAP has to work harder, and louder, to achieve the same results.  This condition is compounded further as the filter traps any debris.  The blockage occurs at an accelerated rate since it's less porous than the standard filter.

[JerryG]

Thanks, Sleeprider, SarcasticDave94, and CrimsonNape for good advice.  

My good news is after yanking the HA (hypoallergenic) filter and replacing it with the standard ResMed issue, my ugly Red Leak faces are gone!

Turns out the "Flow" curve envelope (ResMed software) with the AG HA filter was only about half that with the standard filter.
Not saying that that would happen at other pressures, leak rates, etc., but that was my experience.  (My 95th percentile leak rate hangs around 40-50 l/m)  

I bought those filters thinking they would cut pollen, but, as Sleeprider pointed out, that's not really what HA means.  
I even made a little effort to find the smallest particle size that specific HA filter would pass, but found no data.

[Coffee Man]

Re: filtering capability of regular vs hypoallergenic filters.

From Resmed’s website:

https://www.resmed.com/us/en/healthcare-...toset.html

Standard: Average arrestance: > 75% for ~7 micron dust

Hypoallergenic: Efficiency: >98% for ~7-8 micron dust. >80% for ~0.5 micron dust

[JerryG]

...
I bought those filters thinking they would cut pollen, but, as Sleeprider pointed out, that's not really what HA means.  
I even made a little effort to find the smallest particle size that specific HA filter would pass, but found no data.

Very interesting, Coffee Man!  Good info about ResMed's filter.  

Not saying it doesn't exist, but I haven't come across similar for the AG HA filter.

Also interesting that ResMed uses the term "Hypoallergenic" to describe the filter's ability to stop allergen-sized particles, not merely an absence of allergic contact dermatitis response to the filter material.  Thanks.