Introducing Mirage Micro™ Nasal Mask

Tracy R. Nasca

February 8, 2008

From the CPAP patients perspective it’s always exciting to learn about new mask that come to market. ResMed is bringing patients a new mask that will certainly bring a smile to many faces. Mirage Micro serves the need of patients who are looking for a smaller mask frame as well as a smaller headgear.

In December, Talk About Sleep polled its members asking what changes they would like to see in patient interfaces. The number one request among women was a smaller size mask frame and smaller headgear. ResMed delivers that request and more. Elaine Woldrich is ResMeds Product Manager, Masks - America. She was kind enough to grant me an interview to discuss the details about their newly launched Mirage Micro.

Mirage Micro™ Nasal Mask

Patients face so many challenges in adjusting to CPAP. Mask issues are significant and I am so pleased to see that ResMed has addressed the need with the new size small frame on the Mirage Micro. It is not just a matter of offering a size small cushion; it's the frame itself that can be the problem for people with small facial features.

Elaine reports that during market testing, which included user evaluations around the world, the new design on the Mirage Micro was overwhelmingly preferred by patients and clinicians. They commented positively on quietness, comfort and ease of use.

I asked Elaine to describe the Mirage Micro and point out the key benefits/features of the new mask. She said, "The new Mirage Micro combines the proven seal of the Mirage dual-wall cushion with ease-of-use features such as the MicroFit dial for quick fitting. With the addition of the new Small size, Mirage Micro fits over 95% of users based on our internal anthropometric data. The streamlined design with a clipless cushion and elbow reduce the number of parts and make it easier to clean. It also includes a new drawstring carrying bag that is convenient for traveling."

"Benefits include the new MicroFit dial. It also has quiet venting, streamlined forehead support for improved line of sight and features that make it is easier to use. The Mirage Micro also maintains known and tested technologies from the Ultra Mirage™ II nasal mask such as a set-and-forget headgear, dual-wall cushion and quick-release headgear clips."

Mask Sizes

Since smaller mask sizing options was one of the biggest requests in our recent patient poll, especially among women cpap users, I wanted to know sizing availability with the Mirage Micro. The product has 5 cushion sizes (Small, Medium, Large, Large Wide and X Large). The Small size has been added to fit smaller nasal structures.

Elaine told me that their patient trials included smaller females and their research on development of this mask determined a specific need for a small size mask. The small cushion fits on a small frame that is specifically designed for adults with smaller nasal structures.

Cushion

I wondered if the cushion was the same as Ultra MirageII? Elaine explained, "the Micro cushion has dual-wall effectiveness with the same dimensions as the UMII. In other words, the way the fitting template and the cushion fit a patient is the same as UMII (except for the new Small size). We made it easier to use because we removed the cushion clip for easy cushion removal. Another difference is that we changed the names and added a loop at the top of the cushion. With that being said, although dimensions are the same, the cushions are not interchangeable between the UMII and the Mirage Micro."

Why do you provide two cushion sizes in a package? "The extra cushion size helps clinicians fit the patient. Oftentimes the clinician will not know the exact size of users' nose and the extra cushion size allows them flexibility to fit with the correct cushion without having to open another package.'

I noticed something unique about this new mask; Elaine told me it was referred to as the loop. Why does the Micro cushion have a loop at the top, what is that all about?
Elaine explained, "there are three reasons why the Micro cushion has a loop. First it's an alignment marker so a patient will know when the cushion is facing up and properly aligned between the sleep forehead support arms. Second, the loop makes it easy to remove from the cushion. Simply pull on the loop and pull away from the frame. Third, it's an easy way for patients to differentiate between their UMII cushion and Micro cushion."

The cushion names changed. What are they and why were they changed? Elaine told me, the cushion names were changed from UMII because after surveying patients they found that the previous naming convention was not intuitive. I love it that ResMed really listens to patient comments and acts on our feedback! The cushion sizing is now consistent with the Mirage Quattro sizing. The following chart shows the cushion name change from UMII to Mirage Micro.

UMII Cushion Name	Micro Cushion Name
-----	Small
Standard	Medium
Large	Large
Shallow	Large Wide
Shallow Wide	X Large

Headgear

Regardless of mask size, the Mirage Micro comes packaged with the same standard size headgear. If you prefer headgear in sizes small or large, they are available through your dealer.

All Mirage headgear uses ResMed's special Breathe-O-Prene® fabric, a material that actually whisks away moisture rather than collecting it. This keeps the material dry, making it more comfortable.

Quiet

Quieter is important and I asked Elaine to be more specific and compare the Mirage Micro to the Ultra Mirage II. "Yes, it is 52% quieter than the Ultra Mirage II nasal mask. We compare how quiet one device is to another by using an international ISO standard (ISO 3744: 1994 Acoustics Determination of Sound Power to measure the noise levels). The sound measurement comparison used is decibels or dBA. Sound pressure is measured at the mask at a10 cm H20." I was curious; do all manufacturers use this ISO standard? Her answer was, "yes, this standard is the agreed upon measurement for testing."

But how is the new mask quieter than the UMII? She informed me that the Micro elbow has been redesigned to include a clipless elbow, venting cover and elbow partition. The new venting has a small multi-hole vent array built into the elbow vent cover. Also contributing to the vent cover is the partition inside the elbow that directs air out of the vent and also optimizes CO2 washout. The vent cover is removable for easier cleaning and quiet venting.

MicroFit dial and forehead support

Similar to the ResMed Quattro™ dial, the new MicroFit dial is designed to offer you personalized comfort. It has 24 positions that turn at 1 mm increments for a more precise fit. The intuitive design also allows the patient to adjust the forehead support with one hand, even while lying down.

Elaine told me, they streamlined the new mask to improve the users' line of sight. The "t-bar" width was also reduced so there is less chance of hitting the pillow when sleeping on one's side.

Have you ever had trouble identifying what size your mask is when you have to replace it? The Mirage Micro name is printed in blue on the forehead support arms and the size of the cushion is identifiable on the side of the cushion. There is also a letter of the cushion name on the bottom of the cushion. The bottom of the frame has the mask name and the ResMed name is in blue on the vent cover.

The Ultra Mirage II is such a beloved mask in the patient population so I wondered what features in the new Micro mask would be the same as UMII? Elaine responded, "Our goal with Micro was to keep the proven and preferred Mirage dual-wall seal of the UMII and add easy-to-use features. We also kept features that patients preferred. The features that are the same are forehead pads, headgear, cushion dimensions (how the cushion seals the face), headgear clips and quick-release swivel."

Frequently asked questions about Mirage Micro™ Nasal Mask

To learn more about fit, cleaning and other important features of this new mask, click here