Alvera AirStrap Headgear for AirFit F20 and AirTouch F20 Full Face Masks
Alvera AirStrap headgear is a compatible spare headgear for AirFit F20 and AirTouch F20 full face masks. Headgear is the part of a mask nobody thinks about until the seal stops working. Straps stretch gradually with washing, body heat and nightly tension, and because the change happens over months rather than overnight, the wearer compensates by pulling everything tighter. That is the wrong fix: overtightened headgear distorts the cushion, presses on the bridge of the nose and creates the leak it was tightening to stop. Fitting fresh headgear restores the original tension and usually solves a leak that was being blamed on the cushion.
What is included
| Item | Detail | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| AirStrap headgear | One compatible headgear for F20 masks, with adjustment tabs, as photographed | NEW |
What is not included
| Item | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mask frame | The frame the headgear attaches to | SOLD SEPARATELY |
| Cushion | Silicone or foam cushion for the frame | SOLD SEPARATELY |
| Elbow and vent assembly | Mask elbow with vent and quick release | SOLD SEPARATELY |
| Complete mask | A full mask assembly | SOLD SEPARATELY |
| Tubing | Standard or heated tubing | SOLD SEPARATELY |
Where the headgear carries magnetic clips
F20 masks are commonly supplied with magnetic headgear clips. Where the headgear in use is fitted with magnets, keep it and the mask at least 50 mm away from any implanted or body-worn medical device or metallic implant that could be affected by a magnetic field, including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, neurostimulators, cerebrospinal fluid shunts with an adjustable valve, aneurysm clips, metallic stents, cochlear implants, insulin pumps and any ferromagnetic implant. This applies to the wearer, to anyone sharing the bed and to anyone handling the mask. Magnetic clips must not be used where the wearer or a bed partner has any of the above, and the responsible clinician should be asked where there is any doubt. Where a magnet-free arrangement was chosen for a clinical reason, it should not be changed without asking that clinician first.
Check the mask before ordering
This headgear fits AirFit F20 and AirTouch F20 full face masks, which share a frame. It does not fit F30, F30i or F40 masks, nor nasal or pillow masks, all of which use different frames and strap arrangements. The mask model is printed on the frame. Where the model is not certain, ask before ordering.
When to renew headgear
The usual signal is not visible damage. It is the wearer finding that the setting which worked last month no longer seals, and tightening a notch to compensate. A second notch a few weeks later means the straps have stretched, not that the face has changed.
Other signs worth acting on: red marks or soreness that are new at the same tension, a strap that will not hold its position in the adjustment tab, fabric that has gone thin, hard or bobbled at the cheek, and elastic that no longer springs back when stretched by hand. Any of those means the headgear is doing less work than it was designed to, and the cushion is taking the strain instead.
Renewing headgear on a schedule rather than waiting for failure keeps a mask working as it did when it was fitted, and it is a fraction of the cost of a complete mask.
Key features
Specification
| Brand | Alvera |
| Product | AirStrap headgear |
| Product type | Compatible mask headgear, third party accessory |
| Fits | AirFit F20 and AirTouch F20 full face masks |
| Does not fit | F30, F30i and F40 masks, and nasal and pillow masks |
| Adjustment | Adjustable straps with tabs |
| Construction | Soft fabric with padded support |
| Cleaning | Detachable, hand wash |
| Supplied | Non-sterile, single patient use |
| Condition | New |
Specification limited to what is confirmed
Reference number, GTIN, headgear size and whether magnetic or standard clips are fitted are not stated here pending confirmation against the production record, and should not be assumed from the description above. Ask before ordering if any of these details is needed.
Care and renewal
| Action | Detail | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Wash | Hand wash in warm water with a mild detergent, squeezing rather than wringing | Weekly |
| Dry | Air dry away from direct sunlight, which degrades the elastic | Weekly |
| Remove clips first | Where clips are fitted, take them off before washing so they are not soaked | Every wash |
| Inspect | Check for stretched elastic, thinning fabric, and straps that will not hold position | Weekly |
| Check tension | Note whether the setting that used to seal still does, since creeping tightness means stretch | Monthly |
| Renew | Fit fresh headgear when the straps no longer hold tension, or at the interval set by the service responsible for care | Typically every three to six months |
The above is general guidance for a single user. The instructions supplied with the mask take precedence. Do not use a washing machine, dishwasher, bleach, alcohol-based cleaners, fabric conditioner or scented oils on mask headgear.
Alvera range
Alvera is the own-brand accessory range from Elarix Medical, covering the consumables that sleep therapy depends on and that need renewing on a schedule. AirStrap covers headgear and strap hardware, alongside AirLink connectors and adapters, PureFlow filters, ThermaAir heated tubing, AirFlex tubing, AquaPure water chambers, AirSoft cushions and PureWipe cleaning wipes. Products are individually referenced and barcoded, so a repeat order is placed against a code rather than a description.
