[Equipment] Cut & splice Airmini tube to add QTube? Source for 15mm straight connectors?

[john.mccarthy]

The Airmini is outstanding in many ways, but the past few nights that I’ve tried it, the noisy airflow kept me from getting as good sleep as I’ve been getting with my ResMed Airsense 10 AutoSet. JimIves post to the forum on 01-13-2019 prompted me to get a QTube muffler (via Amazon). Even though I knew it wouldn’t fit the Airmini directly, I hoped I could figure out how to make it work somehow.
 
Now that I have the QTube, I’d rather not take the time to try to find a 3-D printer to make Jim's adapters in order to put the QTube between the airmini and the airmini tubing that runs to my HumidX and AirFit P10 nasal pillow.
 
It seems to me the simplest thing to do might be just to cut the Airmini tube about 6 inches from the Airmini, to cut the short tube that came with the Qtube in half, and then to connect the cut ends of the hoses together using two 15mm x 15mm straight connectors (perhaps plus some NexCare tape) in order to place the QTube in-line fairly close to the Airmini.
 
Is this a bad idea?
 
I also have been unable to find a place where I can purchase two straight 15mm x 15mm connectors. I’ve found a few medical supply companies that carry those connectors, but they won’t sell lots fewer than 50 pieces or $2,500! Does anyone know where I might be able to get something this:

Clear Connector
Part Number: I114NB
ID / OD (mm): 15mm OD x 15mm  OD
 
Any advice would be appreciated!
 
Thanks.

~John

[booksfan]

I am not sure what the connectors you are referencing look like, but I hacked my AirMini hose to use my Bleep. I used connectors I purchased online at A**z*n. It was a set of various sizes, Rescare CPAP Hose Connectors & Tubing Adapters. I also used a green PTFE thred (that is how it is spelled on the roll) tape similar to teflon tape for plumbing, but for oxygen use, purchased online from the same place, to secure the adaptor to the hose. 

   

[Sleeprider]

First consideration is that any mask must properly vent expired air. If the section you cutoff includes the heat moisture exchange and vent, you need to have a mask vent included. I think you'd be better off using a conventional Airfit P10 mask or nasal mask with a conventional 15 mm slimline tube, and adapting off the Airmini 12 mm (0.47 in.) outlet. I have not seen the adapters you are referencing but it's a pretty good bet that you can find appropriate PVC or the right size of clear vinyl tube that will fit over the Resmed outlet and inside the 22 mm OD of standard or slimline tube. A 22 mm standard fitting is 0.866 inches in diameter, or close to 7/8. I think you could make a short piece of 7/8 O.D. x 5/8 I.D. PVC vinyl tubing found at Home Depot or Lowes do the trick with a few pieces of electric or PTFE tape to shim. This assumes you will use the standard 22 mm adapter ends on Slimline tube and not cut anything off the OEM mask.

If you want to use a micrometer and measure the O.D. and I.D. of the existing mask and Air Mini outlet, we might bet closer.

[Sleeprider]

First consideration is that any mask must properly vent expired air. If the section you cutoff includes the heat moisture exchange and vent, you need to have a mask vent included. I think you'd be better off using a conventional Airfit P10 mask or nasal mask with a conventional 15 mm slimline tube, and adapting off the Airmini 16 mm I.D. (0.629in.) outlet. I have not seen the adapters you are referencing but it's a pretty good bet that you can find appropriate PVC or the right size of clear vinyl tube that will fit over the Resmed outlet and inside the 22 mm OD of standard or slimline tube. A 22 mm standard fitting is 0.866 inches in diameter, or close to 7/8. I think you could make a short piece of 7/8 O.D. x 5/8 I.D. PVC vinyl tubing found at Home Depot or Lowes do the trick with a few pieces of electric tape to shim.

[booksfan]

Sleeprider makes a valid and important point about venting expired air. I cut the hose at the HME, removing it, and am using my regular mask, the Bleep, which exhausts at the nasal port interface. Surprisingly, removing the HME reduced the noise level significantly! Now I can use my mask of choice with the AirMini and it's relatively quiet to boot...a win in my book!