Clearance System Removes Mucus from the Airways

A new lung drainage system uses high frequency chest wall oscillations (HFCWO) to clear mucus in the airways.

The SmartVest SQL HFCWO system is intended for patients with long- term pulmonary issues such as bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy, or for treating chest congestion associated with more than 400 different medical conditions including neuromuscular and immune disorders. HFCWO systems are often the last option available when chest congestion cannot be cleared by more conventional therapies such as drugs, chest physical therapy, special coughing techniques, or cough-assist aids.


The SQL system consists of a wearable vest with an inflatable air bladder that is connected by a hose to a programmable air compressor that delivers air into bladder in repetitive cycles, thus creating a squeezing cycle action on the upper body torso. The squeezing action serves as a “mini-cough,” helping to dislodge stubborn mucus from the airways and reducing the thickness of the mucus to help it propel towards larger airways.

The system boasts a lightweight soft-fabric vest, a smaller, quieter, and lighter generator than previous versions, enhanced ramping, an enhanced pause feature, and a user-friendly graphic interface. The system is intended for use twice daily for 15–30 minutes, with the air compressor programmed to deliver 5 to 20 compressions per second. The SmartVest SQL HFCWO system is a product of Electromed (New Prague, MN, USA), and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“We designed the SQL to stand apart from the competition with features that our patients and clinicians were asking for. They talked, and we listened,” said Kathleen Skarvan, CEO of Electromed.

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