Talk About Sleep Member Patient Evaluation of Mirage Activa LT

Tracy R. Nasca - April 13, 2009

The biggest challenge with PAP therapy is getting the right mask to fit and stay put! I hear from a countless number of you about how over time, you get frustrated with a mask that does not stay in place when you move at night.

Masks are so personal and so critical to your success with therapy that we always want to provide our opinion of the latest and greatest. So we decided to test the new Mirage Activa LT. The results were tremendous! It's rare when you find a seal that works so well, one user said “the air-sealing ability is magnificent”.

The goal of the trial was to see if existing ComfortGel, ProfileLite, FlexiFit and Zest users preferred Mirage Activa LT over their current mask and why. This past December and January we sent 33 users the Activa LT and asked them to fill out a survey about their experience. These discerning judges had an average of 5 years of PAP therapy experience each and at least 2 years experience on their current nasal mask. They trialed Activa LT for an average of 12 nights.

And the winner is…Activa LT! In fact, 88% of users would switch to Activa LT. We had a couple of folks who realized they had the wrong size and despite the fact that they could have used a smaller size still rated it high. This is a nice reminder to always make sure your homecare provider uses a fitting template when sizing you for a new mask. Check out my January 20 th article “Choosing the Right Mask: What you need to know to “Fit Right the First Time” for some helpful tips.

What did they like about Activa LT? “Durability” and “Maintains seal during movement” rated the highest on the survey. The inflatable part of the cushion automatically seals but with a light feeling on the nose. One user said “it doesn't feel like you are wearing a mask except for the straps.” I always tell folks that when you get a mask that works…stick with it. I'm pleasantly surprised and encouraged about the ability of the Activa LT to convert such loyal users.

Users also mentioned they liked “quietness”, “seal integrity while moving around”, while these users commented on the “comfort & the way it conforms to my face” and the way the“cushion moves to maintain seal, very cool!” Other factors that rated highly in the evaluation were “seal (little or no leaks),” “quick fitting,” “stability” and “air flow that doesn't disturb.” Some users said this about Activa LT is “softer, the seal & the straps sit well off the cheeks that adds to its comfort” and “it's a great seal without cinching it down, also prefer knob adjustment.”

These users rated “unobtrusiveness” the lowest of the evaluation criteria but still rated it above average in importance. A couple people wrote that the “size is too big and overlapped my mouth,” “large on my face but it's worth it to sleep well and have less leaking”, and “moves in and out when I breathe”. Each mask fits differently so keep this in mind when you are fit with this mask.

Overall, the results from our Talkaboutsleep.com patient evaluation showed that the Activa LT, while larger than their current mask for some, on average, is preferred because of its durability, quietness, and a comfortable seal that stays put with movement.

If you would like to participate in future mask trials, join TalkAboutSleep (it's free) to receive future notifications.