What You Need to Know About Wearing Transcend on Your Head; Designed to ‘Float’ on the Head

One of the first things you’ll notice about Transcend is that it is a head-worn CPAP. We hope no one would want to put a traditional CPAP on their head; that would be nuts. But Transcend isn’t like traditional CPAPs. In fact, it was designed to be the smallest and lightest CPAP specifically because it is worn on the head.  

As more folks purchase Transcend, questions about how best to wear it have surfaced. To respond to your questions, Somnetics has created a new fitting guide video that shows you what to expect when wearing Transcend and explains how to properly fit the device so it can be worn comfortably.

“Transcend is designed so that you adjust the device and the mask interface separately,” says Somnetics President Ralph Germscheid. “While the mask should be snug to your face, the device on your head should be allowed to move slightly. Memory foam cushions the device to fit more naturally on your head. When you lie back onto a pillow the device is hardly noticeable if it is fitted properly.”

Transcend is designed to ‘float’ on the head. This allows the weight of the device—which is less than 1 lb—to transfer to the pillow when you lie down and roll while sleeping. While it is a natural inclination to tightly strap the device and the mask interface, over tightening the headgear straps will prevent Transcend from moving in the manner in which it was designed. This ability of the device to move slightly also minimizes seal leaks.

“Getting used to Transcend is similar to adjusting to a new CPAP mask,” says Germscheid. “It may take a night or two to get used to Transcend. And, a proper fit goes a long way in making it comfortable.”

Mark S., a sleep apnea patient who owns a Transcend CPAP adds, “It's hard to believe how comfortable something that sits on your head can really be ... There is nothing wrong with having this on top of your head. You don't wear it for beauty, that's for sure. But in the morning when you wake up, it's beautiful."

Other features the engineers at Somnetics added to make Transcend comfortable to wear include the short hose, the HME (heat moisture exchanger, which is used in place of a traditional water chamber), and air-bearing blower technology to eliminate vibration and heat buildup from the motor.

Want to check it out for yourself?

Watch the new fitting video now.

See Mark S. talk about what it feels like to wear Transcend.

Learn more about Transcend .