POWAY, Calif.--ResMed will debut its new Swift LT for Her, a mask specially designed for women, at Medtrade this week.
Based on an independent poll of CPAP users conducted on consumer Web site TalkAboutSleep.com, 90 percent of women believe manufacturers should be more considerate of women’s needs in mask development. Eighty-five percent of female respondents said they had special needs in mask choice and fit, and more than 70 percent said they had mask fit problems. Additionally, 30 percent of poll respondents said their mask headgear pulled their hair or interfered with their hairstyle.
The new mask incorporates ResMed’s nasal pillows technology with personalized features for women's unique preferences, the company said. With no forehead support and weighing 2.3 ounces, the mask features a soft but secure seal to ensure comfortable sleep, and has an adjustable backstrap that can be worn over or under the hair.
According to the TalkAboutSleep poll, more than 25 percent of respondents said their mask was too large, so the Swift LT for Her has an extra small pillow to extend the fit range for more petite noses. The mask frame width is 50 percent smaller, suitable for side sleeping, and the rotating barrel allows women to customize for the best fit. With its quiet nasal pillows system, the company said, the mask "offers a minimal, unobtrusive nasal pillows system that lets a female patient feel more tlike herself."
“By investing in developing new features that are important to women, ResMed is providing support to patients and clinicians who are committed to patient compliance,” said Tracy Nasca, TalkABoutSleep.com's founder and senior vice president.