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Mirage Activa
For several years, the Mirage Activa was a workhorse in ResMed Corp.’s nasal mask product line. It was quiet and very comfortable, two essential attributes for a CPAP mask. People deemed it ultra reliable, keeping a good seal to the face despite the tossing and turning that often takes place in bed. Most raved that it rarely, if ever, leaked.
So when the company released a new version of this nasal mask for continuous positive airway pressure systems more than two years ago, the attitude among some of its users was, “Why? If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”
But many of those same users have now been won over by the Mirage Activa LT. Those who have used both models say the LT version is an improvement over an already ideal mask. It’s less obtrusive and quieter, yet just as comfortable as the original, many say.
At the same time, the newer mask is generally easier on the wallet.
Whereas the ResMed Mirage Activa sells for about $120, the price tag for the LT version is usually around $100.
Devoted fans say the orignal Activa is still a great mask. It’s ultra quiet and comfortable, utilizing ResMed’s ActiveCell technology so the mask adapts to the nighttime shifting of sleepers to maintain that all-important seal. The mask also comes with a quick-release elbow and an 11-inch tube that connects to the long tube from the CPAP machine -- features that were not included with the LT model
The quick-release elbow allows the user to detach easily from the CPAP machine without having to remove the mask for the late-night trips to the bathroom.
Also, the original ResMed model uses a side-squeeze-style clip on the headgear, which many users find easier to deal with than the center-press clip that’s on the Activa LT, and also found on ResMed’s Ultra Mirage II nasal mask.
But the pros of the newer model are many.
First of all, it’s designed differently. Yes, there’s still a forehead support, but the Activa LT covers less area on the face and is not as visible in your field of vision, enhancing the feeling that the mask is less of a hassle.
Unlike the original Activa model, the newer one employs ResMed’s Microfit dial, which is also used on the Mirage Micro and Mirage Quattro. The dial is a 24-position adjuster that makes it simple for users to tweak the mask’s fit while the mask is already on the head. The original model has only a four-position adjuster.
Just like the original Activa, the Mirage Activa LT uses the ActiveCell Technology that allows the mask to adapt to changes in the face as the user shift in his or her sleep. And although the original is a quiet mask, the LT version is even quieter. ResMed says it makes 50 percent less noise, which means it is virtually silent.
For more information on ResMed products go to ResMed Masks or ResMed.com.