ALS and Airway Clearance (ALSAC) Therapy

The HFCWO aims to mobilize the secretions to the pharynx to allow the patient to expel the secretions. However, many ALS patients are unable to expel their secretions due to atrophied expiratory muscles. The HFCWO device uses a small air compressor with a vest that wraps around the chest to induce airflows that pull secretions from the walls of the airways, thin the secretions and move them up the airways towards the larger airways and pharynx.

A noninvasive therapy, removes secretions in patients who have an ineffective cough because their peak cough flows are less than 270 L/min. This device applies a positive pressure to the airway and rapidly switches to a negative pressure applied to the airway. The rapid switch between the two types of pressure simulates a natural cough, thus assisting with expulsion of the secretions.