This mask is discontinued. Please visit its replacement Dreamwear full face mask.
ComfortGel Blue Full Face Mask, Small – Philips Respironics
The ComfortGel Blue Full from Philips Respironics is a full face CPAP mask that delivers comfortable and stable sleep apnea therapy. The ComfortGel Blue Full uses a dual-layer cushion of gel and silicone to provide a custom fit that adapts to the contours of the face, protecting pressure points at the bridge of the nose and around the mouth and lips. A premium silicone forehead pad anchors the mask, prevents red marks, and augments fit. The ComfortGel Blue Full also has a stability selector tool to allow the user to fine-tune the angle of the mask against the face to stifle air leaks. Ball and socket quick clips attach the mask to the headgear to make putting the ComfortGel Blue Full on night after night an easy task. The headgear has four points of adjustment to further support you in finding a comfortable and functional fit. Angled exhalation micro ports located in the center of the mask keep sleep therapy quiet and direct exhaled air up and away instead of into your face or the face of anyone sleeping with you.
Features
Dual-layer cushion of gel and silicone with sure-seal blue gel technology
Premium forehead pad
A built-in stability selector tool
Gel technology
The ComfortGel Blue Full face mask uses the same dual-layer cushion design as the Philips Respironics ComfortGel Blue nasal mask. A squishy blue gel cushion nests inside a thin, malleable silicone Comfort Flap cushion. The two cushions work together to establish a custom seal to your face. The interior gel cushion provides additional stability to keep the proper adjustment on your face. The interlocking cushions come apart quickly to simplify cleaning.
Personalized fit at critical pressure points
Since full face masks cover considerable surface area, they can be a little tricky to seal. Without proper positioning, they tend to leak around the bridge of the nose into the eyes, and around the sides of the mouth or at the lip. Many people respond to leaks by over-tightening the headgear, but tight headgear results in discomfort, skin irritation, and can even make leaks worse. A stability selector tool at the top of the ComfortGel Blue Full allows you to fine-tune mask fit and obtain a good seal at critical pressure points where leaks are common. The premium silicone forehead pad also keeps the mask comfortably anchored and your skin irritation-free at that critical pressure point. Four EZ Peel tabs on the headgear aid in establishing a stable but comfortable mask fit.
Special touches for quality of life enhancements
Headgear is a vital contributor to mask fit, comfort, and overall ease of use. The headgear with the Comfort Gel Blue Full mask clicks into place with ball and socket Quick Clip technology, eliminating the need to thread the headgear through small holes. To remove the mask, unhook one side and pull the headgear up and off your head. Since very few adjustments will be needed from night to night, you can just slip it back on and click back into place the next time you go to bed. Angled exhalation micro ports quiet exhaled airflow and direct airflow away from you and your bed partner. Dual 360-degree swivel connectors keep the tubing moving with you in your sleep instead of against you.
Sizing and Fitting
A custom-fit begins with selecting the right size for you. Masks for CPAP and BiPAP are not one size fits all. The best size for you in one type of mask may not be the best size for you in another style of mask or brand of mask.
Four cushion sizes are available for the Philips Respironics ComfortGel Blue Full (Small, Medium, Large, & X-Large). A sizing guide is available here to select the optimal size cushion for your face. Assess your size with your mouth slightly open. The full face mask should rest on or just above the bridge of the nose and below the bottom lip. The mask should not be in or near the eyes. It should not touch the lip or the corners of the lips.
Fitting
- Loosen the headgear at all four EZ Peel Tab locations.
- Squeeze the stability selector at the top of the mask and slide the arm up, placing the forehead pad in the highest position.
- Disconnect one Quick Clip. 4.
- With one hand, position the mask cushion under the lower lip, then roll the cushion up and over the nose.
- Hold the cushion in place over the mouth and nose with one hand and pull the headgear over the head with the other hand.
- Connect the Quick Clip on the open side into the socket.
- Adjust the top straps first. The forehead pad should rest lightly against the forehead.
- Adjust the bottom straps next. The mask should sit gently against the face and not feel tight.
- Connect the CPAP tubing to the mask and lie down in bed.
- Turn on the CPAP machine and make additional adjustments to the top and bottom headgear.
Adjusting for leaks
- Reseat the mask
- Gently lift it off your face with the headgear in place and then return it. Often reseating alone resolves problems by allowing the cushion to conform to your face better.
- Use the stability selector tool.
- For leaks around the bridge of the nose or into the eyes, move the stability support arm to a lower position.
- Squeeze the arms on the stability selector and slide it down to move the mask closer to your face to seal the leak.
- For leaks below the nose or near the lip, move the stability support arm to a higher position.
- Squeeze the arms on the stability selector and slide it up to move the bottom edge of the mask closer to your face.
- With each adjustment, you may find it necessary to reseat the mask by lifting it slightly up off your face and then placing it back down. Reseating allows the gel to realign.
- For leaks around the bridge of the nose or into the eyes, move the stability support arm to a lower position.
- Apply pressure with your fingers to the mask in the leak’s location. If this eliminates the leak, tighten the headgear strap that is closest to the leak.
DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN. Some leaks are ok. If you are not bothered by the leak and your machine is not emitting an alarm, it is not necessary to completely seal it off.
ProTip: You should be able to fit a finger under the headgear straps. If you cannot, it is too tight.
Care of the Mask
Recommended cleaning frequency
- Daily: silicone and gel cushions & mask frame
- Weekly: headgear
Cleaning process
- Wash in warm soapy water using a mild dish soap.
- Rinse thoroughly in clean water.
- All parts should be air dried out of direct sunlight.
Important: Do not clean with products containing alcohol, scents, antibacterial agents, antiseptics, bleach, chlorine, or moisturizers. Do not soak any parts for more than 10 minutes.
Component Materials
Face plate: Polycarbonate
Gel cushion: Urethane gel/EVA
Gel cushion and outer shell: Urethane film
Outer flap: Silicone
Forehead cushion: Silicone
Headgear clips: Thermoplastic polyester elastomer • Headgear (premium): UBL/Urethane foam/Lycra
Operating Range 4 to 30 cmH20
FAQ
What does Resistance Control Ready mean on the package?
The ComfortGel Blue Full mask works well with any CPAP or BiPAP machine, but it is designed for optimal compatibility with Philips Respironics CPAP machines that are programmed to compensate for air leaks with the Resistance Control Ready software. By using a code stamped on the bottom of the mask, the machine automatically adjusts flow rates to compensate for known leak profiles of masks. That said, the ComfortGel Blue Full face mask is compatible with any standard CPAP or BIPAP device.
The headgear feels too big, and it is hard to get a good seal. What can I do?
If the headgear is too long in the back, roll the bottom of the headgear over or under to get a better fit. This small tweak can be enormously important to your overall comfort and success with mask fit.
Final CPAPMan comments
It is hard to overstate the excitement sleep professionals had when the ComfortGel masks were introduced about 10 years ago. At the time, the ComfortGel Full (and nasal) masks offered some fantastic new features to improve fit and overall comfort. The blue gel layer is so soft and squishy and watching it mold perfectly to a face is fun to watch! Although the ComfortGel Blue Full face mask design is a few generations old at this point, there are many good reasons why many full face mask users hoard these, worried about a time when the ComfortGel Blue Full may no longer be available to purchase. Whether you have been using a full face mask for quite some time or have been told you need one and been reluctant to make the switch, the ComfortGel Blue Full is well worth trying from CPAPman!
- Philips Respironics ComfortGel Blue Full Cushion (choice of S, M, L, XL)
- hilips Respironics ComfortGel Blue Full Mask Frame with QuickClips and Forehead Pad
- Philips Respironics ComfortGel Blue Full Headgear