- Chest wall oscillation
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Chest wall oscillation Intervention 
A typical breathing treatment for cystic fibrosis, using a mask nebulizer and the ThAIRapy VestMeSH D035641 The "Vest Airway Clearance System", a form of chest wall oscillation, is a device and system for clearing excess mucus from lung airways (bronchi and bronchioles). It is principally used in the treatment of cystic fibrosis, but is gaining use in the treatment of other diseases, such as bronchiectasis, COPD, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, in which excessive mucus can block airways due to excessive production or impaired clearance.
This "passive system" is not dependent on the effort of the patient. It uses a compressor to inflate and deflate the vest rhythmically at timed intervals and thus imposes high frequency chest wall oscillations that are transferred to the lungs. These oscillations thin thixotropic airway mucus, facilitating its removal by coughing. Delivery of air to the vest can be controlled manually.
History
The Vest System was developed by Dr. Warren Warwick, a pediatrician and cystic fibrosis expert at the University of Minnesota, which licensed the product to American Biosystems in 1988.[1][2][3] It is the original High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation Device by Advanced Respiratory, Inc, (ARI), formerly American Biosystems, Inc., in St. Paul, MN. In 2003, Hill-Rom acquired ARI.
References
- ^ When 'Amazing' Is No Longer Enough By BARNABY J. FEDER, Published: April 6, 1995, The New York Times
- ^ Device and method for measuring a spirogram, Warren J. Warwick et al, Patent number: 6050953, Filing date: May 21, 1998
- ^ Chest compression apparatus, Warren J. Warwick et al, Application number: 11/204,547, Publication number: US 2006/0036199 A1
External links
Categories:- Medical treatments
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