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Trusted Respiratory Care Since 1976: Med Systems Fluid Flo Percussors for Targeted Airway Clearance

Respiratory care continues to be a critical aspect of healthcare, especially for individuals with conditions that have compromised or congested airways. Conditions such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia can significantly affect the ability to effectively clear excess mucus.

Understanding Focused Chest Physical Therapy:

Effective airway clearance is essential for maintaining lung health and preventing respiratory complications. The airways are lined with a thin mucus layer that helps trap and move foreign particles and debris through the airways. In conditions where mucus production is increased or the natural clearance mechanisms are compromised, such as in cystic fibrosis, the mucus can become thick and difficult to clear, leading to airway obstruction and increased susceptibility to infections and lung damage.

Manual CPT Method vs. Fluid Flo Percussors:

For decades, manual chest physiotherapy (CPT) performed by a therapist or a caregiver, had been a common method used to promote airway clearance. This technique involves physical rhythmic clapping or tapping on the chest and back to loosen and mobilize mucus. While highly effective, these manual methods can be labor-intensive for clinicians, and may not be well-tolerated by all patients.

Fluid Flo Percussors represent a significant advancement in targeted airway treatment. These devices use a combination of powerful rhythmic popping and percussive forces to tirelessly simulate the effects of manual chest percussion. The key advantage lies in their ability to precisely target specific areas of the lungs, with their nonfixed movement ability ensuring more efficient mucus mobilization.

How Fluid Flo Percussors Work:

With an air source, the Fluid Flo Percussors operate with a strong pneumatic popping. They deliver powerful rhythmic pulses to the chest wall, promoting the movement of mucus towards the larger airways for easier clearance. Clinicians can target treatment on critical congestion areas, based on each patients’ unique needs.

Benefits of Fluid Flo Percussors:

Precision and Targeting: Fluid Flo Percussors enable healthcare providers to target specific areas of the lungs, ensuring a more effective and efficient airway clearance process.
User-Friendly: Unlike manual CPT, The Fluid Flo Percussors are generally well-tolerated by patients and can be used in various clinical settings, including home care with a compressor fitting. They are lightweight, and easy to transfer from room to room.
Reduced Physical Strain: Healthcare professionals’ benefit from these devices by reducing the physical strain associated with manual percussion techniques. This allows for more consistent and prolonged therapy sessions.
Cost Effective: Other airway clearance techniques/systems can be extremely expensive and unreliable. The Fluid Flos have been tried and true for reliability and stood the test of time for effective airway treatment therapy.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Treatment

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death worldwide, and is becoming increasingly common as the population ages. It is now the third leading cause of death in the United States. Understanding the problem is critical to determining the best therapy for treating the disease. COPD consists of a group of lung diseases that block airflow, making it difficult for a person to breathe. The two main conditions associated with COPD are emphysema and bronchitis.

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Chest Percussion versus Vest Therapy for Treating Cystic Fibrosis – a Stanford Study

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) performing airway clearance (AC) daily to remove secretions are faced with a broad array of devices and techniques to aid in this process and little to guide them in making an informed choice. Two of the most common approaches are chest percussion and use of high frequency chest wall compression (HFCWP) vests. Until recently, there has been very little evidence to indicate that one technique is superior to the other. However, recent research conducted at the Stanford University Cystic Fibrosis Center in Palo Alto, California (http://cfcenter.stanford.edu) offers significant insights.

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Occupational Lung Disease

Occupational lung disease is a term used for a wide range of diseases caused by repeated exposure to harmful particles, gases, vapors or chemicals. The term occupational lung disease covers a number of conditions that affect different parts of the lungs. Occupational lung diseases include occupational asthma that affects the airways, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that refers to narrowing of the airways, occupational alveolitis that involves the air sacs of the lungs, occupational lung cancer, and occupational conditions affecting the lining of the lungs.

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