Alvera ThermaAir™ 10 Heated CPAP Tubing

Alvera ThermaAir 10 Heated CPAP Tubing for Air 10 Series Machines, REF 55110

Alvera ThermaAir 10 is a compatible heated tube for Air 10 series therapy machines. It works with the machine's own climate control settings and heated humidifier, so the temperature is set on the machine rather than through a separate controller.

A heated tube solves one specific problem. Standard tubing loses heat across the length of the hose, the warm humidified air cools, and the moisture it was carrying condenses on the inside wall. That condensation is rainout, and it arrives as a spatter of cold water in the mask at three in the morning.

Air holds moisture in proportion to its temperature. Warm air leaving a humidifier at around 30 degrees C carries a given amount of water vapour. Push that same air down an unheated hose lying across a cold bedroom floor and it drops several degrees before it reaches the mask, at which point it can no longer hold what it was carrying and the surplus condenses. The result is a wet hose, a gurgling noise, water in the cushion, and a wearer who turns the humidifier down or off. Turning it down stops the rainout and brings back the dry mouth, blocked nose and sore throat the humidifier was fitted to prevent.

A heating element running the length of the hose breaks that cycle. It holds the air above its dew point all the way to the mask, so the humidity setting can be raised to what the airway needs rather than reduced to what the tubing will tolerate. The difference shows most in cold bedrooms, at higher humidity settings, with full face masks and higher pressures, and for anyone whose mask leaks or who breathes through their mouth. Comfort is what keeps therapy in use, and nasal dryness and a wet hose are two of the most cited reasons people abandon it.

References

Features

• Prevents rainout by holding the air above its dew point across the full length of the hose, so humidity reaches the airway instead of condensing in the tube.
• Works with the machine's climate control, so the temperature is set on the machine and no separate controller is needed at the bedside.
• Integrated electrical connector at the machine end, coupling power and air path in a single connection with no extra lead to route across the table.
• Standard 22 mm mask end cuff, so the tube fits the usual range of nasal, nasal pillow and full face interfaces.
• Flexible lightweight construction, reducing pull on the mask when the wearer changes position, which is a common cause of seal break in side sleepers.
• Lets humidification be set to what the airway needs rather than to the level the tubing will tolerate without condensing.
• Alvera own brand, made to fit the Air 10 platform and supplied direct, which keeps a consumable that needs renewing every few months at a sensible price.
• Individually referenced and barcoded, REF 55110, so a repeat order is placed against a code rather than a description.

Important notice

Check the machine before ordering. ThermaAir 10 is made for Air 10 series machines, including AirSense 10, AirCurve 10 and Lumis series devices. It does not fit AirSense 11 or AirMini machines, which use different connections. A heated tube also requires a machine fitted with a heated humidifier and a climate control function, and the machine must recognise the tube before the heating element will operate. Where the machine model is not certain, ask before ordering.

Safe use. This is a mains powered accessory carrying an electrical heating element. Do not immerse the connector end in water, and do not put the tube in a dishwasher or a washing machine. Do not use a tube with a damaged connector, a split, a kink, a crushed section, or any sign of moisture inside the connector: take it out of service and fit a fresh one. Allow the tube to dry fully before use after cleaning. Do not run the tube under bedding, a mattress or anything else that traps heat, and do not use it with an added heat source. Do not modify the tube, cut it, or extend it with additional lengths of hose. Humidification settings should follow the guidance of the service responsible for the wearer's care.

Cleaning and renewal. Wash weekly in warm water with a mild detergent, keeping the connector end clear of the water. Rinse thoroughly and hang to dry away from direct sunlight, which degrades the material. Inspect weekly for splits, kinks, crushed sections, a loose cuff and moisture inside the connector. Route the tube each night so it is not trapped or pinched. Fit a fresh tube at the interval set by the service responsible for care, typically every three to six months, or sooner if damage or persistent cloudiness appears. The instructions supplied with the machine and with the tube take precedence over this general guidance.

Information on this page is provided for guidance and does not replace advice from a qualified clinician. Always read the manufacturer's instructions before use, and check that a device is suitable for the patient and the prescribed therapy.