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Affordable Lung clearing Chest Shaker

Tactile Transducer Airway clearance on the cheap
  (+5, -1)
(+5, -1)
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Many conditions such as Lou Gehrig's disease and Cistic Fibrosis require assistance to clear the lungs. My Grandfather had a lung fungus condition that led to using a Hill Rom Vest airway clearance system. It basically puffs air in and out of a vest simulating a micro-cough several times per second. It works, however most insurance won't cover the $18,000(US)cost of the unit.

SO HERE IS MY THOUGHT. After seeing the $18k unit in action, I am not a doctor, but if one of my children or myself had a need for such a unit and insurance wouldn't cover me. I would take a $20 life Vest from your local boat shop, cover it with industrial velcro, and buy a $100 pair of Aura Bass Shakers (Tactile Transducers). Put the other side of velcro on the shakers and plug it into your stereo. Move the transducer around the vest as you watch a movie, play a CD or video game.

I'm not so thick to claim that I know more than a medical research co. with millions invested in a product. I have no profit motive either.

AmericanInventor, Mar 17 2006

Hill-Rom Vest http://www.thevest.com/
This is the product [American Inventor] is attempting to mimic. [jurist, Mar 17 2006]

Tactile Transducer info http://www.myhometh...ad.com/tactile.html
[AmericanInventor, Mar 17 2006]

(?) shake me judy! http://www.bbc.co.u...ews_episode15.shtml
[po, Mar 17 2006]

(?) ABI Vest on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com...ST#ebayphotohosting
[BJS, Jun 19 2006]

[link]






       I like the approach. I am ignorant about these transducers and what they do. Are they just big bass amps? If so, what role does the life vest play? I would think the filling would attenuate the vibrations.   

       /I'm not so thick to claim that I know more than a medical research co. with millions invested in a product./ This is the Halfbakery! Heap scorn upon those gurning lackwits at the medical research company! Of course you know better!
bungston, Mar 17 2006
  

       Yeah. What do they know. Bun.
Shz, Mar 17 2006
  

       Heh, lookit his name. I just watched the premiere last night.   

       For next season, I'm going to try to get on it. Anyone else aspiring to it?
DesertFox, Mar 17 2006
  

       I suspect you could spend even less at your local "Rims and Stereo" shop.
Galbinus_Caeli, Mar 17 2006
  

       Me and my dad had this same idea several years ago, it might vibrate the eardrums too much though.   

       I have an ABI Vest because I have Cystic Fibrosis, but haven’t used it in a few years because I have a feeding tube and an IV port, which make it very uncomfortable to use.
BJS, Jun 19 2006
  

       [BJS] - You could surround the tube and port each with a small ring shaped cushion, then wear the vest over the cushions. They would act like moleskin around a blister.
bungston, Jun 19 2006
  

       Yeah, but I still don't like it. And if I started using it again I'd have to get a new vest because the one I have now is a little to small.
BJS, Jun 19 2006
  
      
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