Airway Clearance Systems help many patients
Here are specific conditions that can be treated with an Airway Clearance System:
- Acid Maltase Deficiency and other deficiencies of circulating enzymes
- Anterior Horn Cell Diseases
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy Unspecified
- Kugelberg-Welander Disease
- Other Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Progressive Muscular Atrophy
- Progressive Bulbar Palsy
- Pseudobulbar Palsy
- Primary Lateral Sclerosis
- Other Motor Neuron Diseases
- Other Anterior Horn Cell Diseases
- Anterior Horn Cell Disease Unspecified
- Bronchiectasis
- Bronchomalacia
- Bronchial Stenosis
- Cerebral Palsy
- CHARGE Syndrome
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder – COPD
- Emphysema*
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Dysautonomia*
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophies
- Congenital Hereditary Muscular Dystrophy
- Hereditary Muscular Dystrophy
- Myotonic Disorders
- Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy
- Myotonia Congenital
- Myotonic Chondrodystrophy
- Drug Induced Myotonia
- Other Specified Myotonic Disorder
- Other Myopathies
- Toxic Myopathy
- Myopathy in Endocrine Diseases Classified Elsewhere
- Symptomatic Inflammatory Myopathy in Diseases Classified Elsewhere
- Disorders of the Diaphragm
- Pneumonia
- Post Lung Transplant
- Post Polio Syndrome
- Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia*
- Quadriplegia
- Quadriplegia Unspecified
- Quadriplegia C1-C4 Complete
- Quadriplegia C1-C4 Incomplete
- Quadriplegia C5-C7 Complete
- Quadriplegia C5-C7 Incomplete
- Other Quadriplegia
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
- Tracheomalacia
- Tracheal Stenosis
Personal Airway Clearance Systems – the last 20 years
Respiratory patients in the USA that are fortunate to be covered by insurance have had access to Airway Clearance Systems for the past two decades. Typically, these patients can get a quality Airway Clearance System for about $ 1500 through their insurance. For example, US Insurers often pay 80 – 90% of the cost of these devices. Therefore, a patient typically pays only about 10 – 20 % of the retail cost. As a result, these Airway Clearance Systems, such as the Hill-Rom Vest, the Respirtech Incourage and the Respironics CoughAssist have greatly improved many of these patients’ lives.
Too Expensive for most Patients – until now
Unfortunately, for every patient that receives insurance benefits for these systems, there are many more that are not covered. And others, that are are unlucky to have a condition for which these systems have not been approved for, do not receive any insurance assistance. Regrettably, outside of the United States, insurance does not cover these systems for any patients. Because the retail cost of these systems ranges from $ 12,000 to $ 16,000, only a small percentage of patients that could greatly benefit from Airway Clearance Systems could, until now, afford them. However, we now sell these same systems, refurbished, cleaned, disinfected and tested starting at $ 2,000 with a comprehensive warranty.
How do we do it?
Because we buy in large quantities, we have brought down the purchasing prices. In addition, we also streamlined a systematic tear-down, testing, cleaning and disinfecting program and replace any worn out components. Finally, we test each Hill-Rom Vest Airway Clearance System as well as the Respironics CoughAssist T-70 with both 110 and 220 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz to make sure it can be used anywhere in the world. Because of this, we have managed to bring down the costs of these systems by up to 80% and are still able to offer them with a warranty.
By no means are any of these systems a ‘silver bullet’ or a cure. Along with good nutrition, regular exercise, regular checkups and preventative care, they are helping patients that previously just used Manual Chest Percussion Therapy (CPT).
How did we choose the Airway Clearance Systems that we sell?
The Hill-Rom Vest and the Respirtech Incourage Systems are our favorites because they have significant advantages over single hose or electromechanical Airway Clearance Systems. Both of these devices have proven themselves to be solid products with good features. We are also very impressed with the Respironics T-70 CoughAssist which is the successor of the CA-3000 that has been in use for 20+ years. Finally, with the introduction of the Hill-Rom VitalCough System there are two good insufflator-exsufflator devices available to respiratory patients.
Two Types of Airway Clearance Systems: High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation and Insufflator Exsufflator Airway Clearance Systems
HFCWO
The Hill-Rom Vest and the Respirtech Incourage systems are Airway Clearance Systems referred to as “High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation” or simply “HFCWO”. Patients that produce a lot of sticky mucus in their small and large airways typically use these systems. HFCWO way Clearance Systems “shake” the upper body at a high frequency to loosen and move mucus. Mucus it agitated by by these oscillation and becomes much less viscous and sticky. The mucus is now more mobile and moves much easier from small to large airways. Once the mucus reaches the large airways, patients can cough it up and spit it out. Having less excess mucus in the airways keeps bacteria, viruses and funguses from reproducing. This results in fewer respiratory infections and resulting hospitalizations.
Insufflator Exsufflator
The Respironics CoughAssist CA-3000 and the newer CoughAssist T-70 and a new product called the Hill-Rom VitalCough are examples of another category of Airway Clearance Systems. These devices are sometimes called “Insufflator Exsufflator” or Positive and Negative Pressure Airway Clearance Devices. This technology helps patients that cannot effectively cough themselves by pushing slightly compressed air into the airways immediately followed by sucking out the air using a small vacuum. This action of first inflating and then immediately deflating the airways is similar to a naturally produced cough. Some patients with neuromuscular conditions, or, those that are too weak to cough effectively benefit from using these systems.
Which system is right for me?
We are not physicians and you should always ask your doctor if the use of an airway clearance system would improve the quality of your life. Many physicians that are not personally familiar with these devices may be sceptical. Most physicians are not aware that we can supply the same high quality Airway Clearance Systems at a fraction of the cost. Others may simply not know about these systems, especially in developing nations, or in countries such as Germany where there is an attitude that if the equipment is not covered by insurance it simply cannot be beneficial.
If you produce a lot of mucus in your lungs, you might benefit from an HFCWO Airway Clearance System such as the Hill-Rom Vest or Respirtech Incourage System. However, if you have trouble coughing effectively, you might benefit from using an insufflator exsufflator Airway Clearance System. Lastly, if mucus regularly builds up in your lungs and you are too weak or unable to cough effectively, both an HFCWO and an Insufflator Exsufflator system may be helpful.
A physician specializing in respiratory conditions is probably your best source of qualified advice. If you live in a country where Airway Clearance Systems are not used, you may be able to get some qualified information from patients with the same diagnosis in the USA. Only a licensed physician that is familiar with these systems can give clinical advice if any of these technologies are appropriate and beneficial
NOTICE: U.S. Federal Law restricts the sale of these devices to physicians or those with a valid prescription.
