Airway clearance therapies (ACT) are designed to loosen thick, sticky mucus so it can be cleared from the lungs by coughing or suction. ACT is considered a cornerstone therapy that aims to minimize mucus buildup to help prevent inflammation and infection.
Airway clearance therapy utilizes physical or mechanical means of percussion and vibration to mobilize mucus and phlegm to facilitate airway clearing by coughing.
Chest physiotherapy (CPT) involves a therapist or caregiver gently but firmly patting the chest and back to loosen thick mucus in the lungs.
High frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) is performed with a mechanical vest that gently vibrates the chest wall to loosen mucus.
Coughing is one of the easiest airway clearance techniques and helps to release mucus from he lungs and passed into airways for clearing.
Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) therapy uses a mask or mouthpiece attached to a resistor that holds the airways open to breath in and out against the resistance.
Oscillating PEP is where a person blows out many times through a device to vibrate the large and small airways to dislodge mucus.
ACBT therapy includes controlled breathing, chest expansion exercises and forced coughing to get air behind the mucus to force it out.
High frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) is an airway clearance therapy in which external chest wall oscillations are applied to the chest. HFCWO vests produce vibrations at variable frequencies and intensities, helping to loosen and thin mucus and separate it from airway walls. Studies conducted showed that HFCWO vest therapy produced an improvement in lung function, quality of life, and reduction of symptoms compared to traditional chest physiotherapy (CPT).1 In addition, HFCWO vest therapy is proven to decrease hospitalizations and antibiotic use.2
Manual chest physiotherapy cannot be performed independently and involves utilizing a caregiver or respiratory therapist to perform the percussing and clapping. The effectiveness of manual CPT is largely dependent upon the caregiver’s knowledge and use of proper technique.
In contrast, AffloVest HFCWO:
Are you struggling with a chronic cough, lung infection, or even hospitalization? Have you been diagnosed with a respiratory disease like bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, or a neuromuscular disorder?
There are a number of diseases that negatively impact the lung’s mucus production and ability to cough. When mucus can’t move and blocks airways, it puts the lungs at risk for infection, inflammation, and even airway damage.
Someone with airway clearance challenges may struggle with:
AffloVest is a proven high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy designed to provide patients the freedom and mobility to customize and enhance airway clearance therapy, help mobilize lung secretions, and promote treatment adherence for patients struggling with chronic respiratory conditions. AffloVest is the first fully mobile during use HFCWO vest, and does not utilize bulky generators or air bladder technology.
With treatments often being prescribed for daily sessions, it’s important to have a therapy that fits into a patient’s daily life – not the other way around.
AffloVest is shown to be effective at1:
Our patented Direct Dynamic Oscillation™ technology utilizes eight oscillating motors to create individual pressure waves that target all lobes of the lungs. This technology was designed to mobilize secretions by mimicking manual chest physical therapy (CPT).
AffloVest has three levels of intensity to accommodate patient’s individualized needs and three unique modes designed to mimic hand CPT:
With eight sizes to choose from and no age restrictions, AffloVest is the most inclusive portable HFCWO vest available for patients. You can be sure that regardless of size, shape, or body type, AffloVest delivers targeted therapy that fits.
Adjustments can be made with the AffloVest Size Exchange Program, which allows patients to go up or down in AffloVest size as needed, to provide tailored and targeted airway clearance therapy. See Terms and Conditions for program details.
The AffloVest requires a valid prescription for treatment by HFCWO. Once your healthcare team has decided AffloVest is the airway clearance therapy for you, they can fill out the AffloVest Order form, provide all necessary insurance and medical documentation, and contact a DME distributor to place the AffloVest order.
The AffloVest is cleared by the FDA for U.S. market availability, and is approved for Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance reimbursement under the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code E0483 – High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation. The AffloVest is available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/Tricare. Patients must qualify for coverage and meet their individual insurance’s eligibility requirements.
Coverage criteria and documentation requirements can vary from patient to patient, largely depending on their medical condition and their health insurance carrier and plan.
If the primary diagnosis is bronchiectasis, signs and symptoms of one of the following must be met:
If cystic fibrosis or an approved neuromuscular diagnosis is primary, chart notes to support the diagnosis are required. Learn more about reimbursement coverage for AffloVest here.
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