Fisher&Paykel Healthcare Launches the FlexiFit™ 432 Full Face Mask

November 8, 2006
By Tracy R. Nasca

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Alastair McAuley, Product Development Manager (OSA Interface) with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. I appreciate the considerable time he spent with me regarding their newest full face interface FlexiFit™ 432. It was an added treat to talk with one of the interface engineers. I offer the following interview to share what was learned with our membership:

Tracy Nasca: Alastair, it was nice seeing you again at the recent MedTrade show in Atlanta , Georgia .  It is always exciting to attend such events to see new products launched. This year it was your company, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare who had a really nice new full face mask for sleep apnea patients!  Thank you and your team for taking the time to explain the special features of the FlexiFit™ 432 Full Face mask to our members.

Tracy Nasca: What is your background with Fisher&Paykel Healthcare?

Mr. McAuley: I have a mechanical and control systems engineering degree and have been with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare for 8 years, with most of that time being spent designing masks with other members of the OSA team in consultation with patients, sleep labs, homecare providers and people with various clinical backgrounds.

Tracy Nasca: Of course, I am familiar with your HC431 full face mask.  I have used the interface myself!  Can you tell me if you consider the FlexiFit™ 432 Full Face mask simply an upgrade, or would you suggest that it is a completely different interface? 

Mr. McAuley : The FlexiFit™ 432 Full Face mask was the result of the design team's efforts to improve on the FlexiFit™ 431 Full Face mask. The FlexiFit™ 432 Full Face mask looks similar to the FlexiFit™ 431 Full Face mask as we have used the same under the chin seal design, so in that sense some people may think it is an upgrade, but in terms of performance the FlexiFit™ 432 Full Face is like a new mask.

Tracy Nasca: I really like the foam cushion, tell me why your company decided to use this material in your full face mask.

Mr. McAuley: We incorporated the foam cushion into the design to improve the sealing performance and comfort of the mask, particularly at higher pressures. The foam holds the seal against the face to help create a seal, it is also soft and very flexible so it can automatically contour to a range of facial shapes without causing pressure points and it has the added benefit of being very light weight.

Tracy Nasca: What other features differentiate the FlexiFit™ 432 from the FlexiFit™ 431?

Mr. McAuley: The other noticeable difference on the FlexiFit™ 432 Full Face mask is the mask frame design, the front of the frame is smaller and more streamlined which gives the appearance that there is less mask on the users face.

Tracy Nasca: I call myself a "part time full face mask user", in that I normally use a traditional mask, but when I have nasal congestion, I use a full face mask so as not to miss one single night on CPAP.  Do you see an increase in the number of patients who are using full face masks?

Mr. McAuley: I think that more people are keeping a full face masks as a back up. A high percentage of the population regularly suffer from nasal congestion which makes it almost impossible to use a nasal mask all the time. As the performance and comfort of full face masks has improved a lot over the last few years more people are using them as a first choice.

Tracy Nasca: With CPAP compliance still low at about 50%, do you see full face mask use considered to increase patient compliance for those patients who are mouth breathers?

Mr. McAuley: I believe that as full face mask performance has improved over recent years the increased usage of full face masks will now help improve compliance for patients, so long as patients are given the choice between full face masks and other masks. It is important that patients can try different types of mask at pressure so they can feel what it is like to use the mask, rather than just have the mask held against their face for a few seconds without CPAP.

You can see the FlexiFit™ 432 Full Face mask in our online store