Coughing up sputum is a popular activity among patients living with lung conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis. To effectively dislodge the gunk patients tend to put in a lot of energy and volume into their coughs, a process too difficult or uncomfortable for many already living with compromised lungs. The Lung Flute, which essentially plays deep bass music to the respiratory tree, has just received FDA clearance to be used as a therapeutic at-home sputum dislodging assistance device. All you do is blow into it and the Mylar reed inside vibrates with a frequency that supposedly induces resonance of the sputum, shaking it apart and making it easier to cough it all up. Medical Acoustics, the Buffalo, New York company that developed the Lung Flute, is ready for sales and is making the device available early next month.
The application follows the successful completion of a clinical trial at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and the Western New York VA Medical Center during 2009. The clinical trial, led by principal investigator, Sanjay Sethi MD, was designed to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the Therapeutic Lung Flute®. The trial was completed successfully with the Lung Flute® meeting all primary and secondary endpoints among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with chronic bronchitis. This simple, hand-held, reusable therapeutic device supplements the patient’s natural mucus clearing system by introducing low frequency sound waves into the lungs.
Product page: Lung Flute…
Press release: Medical Acoustics Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance of Therapeutic Lung Flute…
Flashbacks: Lung Flute Helps to Get The Sputum Out; The Lung Flute Cleared by FDA for Sputum Induction
