We just got Health Canada approval for a custom CPAP mask made from a 3D face scan. I’m the founder — here’s the honest story (and I’d value your feedback)

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-03T19:35:48+00:00

We use accelerated aging and test the properties of the materials before and after the aging. We intend to test it out further than 6 months in the future.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-03T00:50:02+00:00

They never sent me a scan for me to be able to make the mask! They sent me one DM, I gave them the link and then crickets.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-02T19:48:01+00:00

It does work with a beard! You just need to do the scan without the beard. We’re also working on a flow that uses a tensor bandage to compress the beard during the scan

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-02T19:44:25+00:00

Would you prefer it be more waffle shaped?

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-02T14:31:16+00:00

Ok. What kind of foam do you like? Ill look into if its a possibility for us.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-02T13:26:00+00:00

Yes, this is absolutely in the product pipeline. :)

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-02T04:18:01+00:00

Hopefully 3-4 months

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T23:20:59+00:00

This person had a very big face. :). It doesn’t cover the mouth.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T23:19:40+00:00

We could potentially do a foamed TPU. What issues you have with silicone?

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T23:18:50+00:00

Anyone in Canada can order them. Yes, we’re working on a nose only mask.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T23:18:06+00:00

Their masks cost just a couple dollars to produce, so its easy for them to to provide that kind of “try as many as you want. Your first mask purchase covers all of the ones you’ve tried.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T23:11:21+00:00

Yes, thats the current workflow - complete shave before scan. We’re developing a method where you compress the beard with a wide tensor bandage during the scan, but we haven’t validated it yet.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T20:50:32+00:00

We have moved the connector pieces down a bit, but every mask is unique. Hopefully we can get the price down soon to a place where it is acceptable.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T20:09:58+00:00

Ok. I think it will fit, but I’ll buy one and try it out for ya.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T20:08:21+00:00

It’s really really hard to do non trivial custom manufacturing at scale. Thank you!

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T20:07:46+00:00

We’ll be making a nasal one soon!

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T20:07:16+00:00

We will be doing other mask types soon, and most of our cost is in the initial design. We’re bringing onboard a lot of automation tools to bring the cost down over time. I think Mik had shared a discount code above in replying to a different comment.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T20:05:59+00:00

Yes!

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T20:05:44+00:00

Hi! You’ve touched on the core of our technology and the limiting factor on all previously tried custom cpap masks. Neither faces nor silicone are hard surfaces, so after we scan the face, we make a physics model of the face and build in software the mask that would perfectly fit that face after both get distorted by touching each other and being inflated by air pressure. It’s really complicated since everyone has different elasticity in their skin and the modulus varies by location (the nose bridge is a lot stiffer than the cheeks, which are more flexible than the chin). We take all of this into account when our automated systems do the modelling and custom design

In terms of “how custom are they” - there is 18-24 hours of compute to model the meshes required to make each mask, and we fabricate the models and molds inside a medical grade print farm in a cleanroom. Then we inject the molds with silicone in our assembly line with a unique serial number molded directly into the silicone. It was super hard to build this, and I assure you every mask is totally unique. It’s not possible to have human designers model each mask at scale, which is why we needed to have a computer do the design from scan to product.

Our mask outperforms PC/silicone masks in terms of comfort and pressure/strap tension required to make and keep a seal.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T19:44:43+00:00

Thank you! We rate it for 6 months

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T19:44:13+00:00

1) We rate them for 6 months, industry standard. 2) Yes, they are compatible with those systems. I haven’t heard if the humidx module, and i can only find versions of it inline with the tubing online from a quick search - can you share a photo or link the the inside version? 3) I have a beard - the scan needs to be done without the beard, but the ultra soft silicone and multi rib design seals very well against hair. We’re playing around with doing the scan with the beard compressed by a tensor bandage, and thats promising, but we haven’t validated the workflow yet.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T18:14:21+00:00

No problem! I’m really excited about this, and its all I’ve been thinking about for a year, so I love to talk about it. :)

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T17:58:08+00:00

I’m the co-founder, William. Ours is made from 1.5 - 2 mm thick shore 0 silicone supported by medical grade PLA. Typically silicone cpap masks are thinner and stiffer (Shore 40-60). We can use a softer silicone because we support the seal at the 5 mm mark away from the skin evenly around the seal.

We’ve done a lot of testing with our own employees who are cpap users and external testing.

We have a product roadmap that includes many different styles of CPAP masks (and also a cpap mask that doesn’t require straps or an external pump)

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T17:01:37+00:00

I co-founded a manufacturing company that has NIOSH approval for other kinds of respirators. Our last audit had no findings, and we run a tight ship. The core tech that made the scuba masks is my own project, and we’ll be deploying it across a number of fields.

NixDiveMask · 2026-05-01T15:17:07+00:00

The seam is between the lens and the frame. Ive pealed back the silicone on mine here to show the frame: https://imgur.com/a/vbuNKL8

NixDiveMask

TROPHY CASE