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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States, and 70,000 globally. One of these CF patients is Marten DeVlieger, a Canadian man that was not going to let his condition limit his life, so he created ChestMaster, a device that would give him freedom of movement while relieving symptoms of the disease at the same time.

The ChestMaster is a High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillating (HFCWO) device used to treat cystic fibrosis and for other indications where airway clearance is required. The process of vibrating the thorax disrupts bronchial secretions, allowing for subsequent removal by coughing. Using eight independent vibrating coils the vest is able to target specific areas of the thorax and lung lobes. The frequency and amplification of each coil can be adjusted by the user to accommodate for higher intensities over congested areas that may be prone to infection, such as the lower lungs. The individual coils may even be turned off above surgical sites or to not bother dead lobes within the lungs. The original vest was created in 2002 and refined into a product at StarFish Medical contract manufacturing.

The ChestMaster vest clocks in at less than 15 lbs (7 kg) and can run for up to two days on its rechargeable battery pack.

While the ChestMaster is not yet FDA approved, it has a Class II classification in Canada.

Product page: ChestMaster…

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Tom Fowler

 

 

Tom Fowler worked as a programmer in the healthcare IT industry before settling back in school to learn how to become a doctor. He likes to dabble with biotech startups, write postcards to his relatives, and play his ukulele. He was a TEDMED '13 scholar, has published research in biomedical informatics, and continues to advocate for international maternal and child health. Currently in the SELECT MD leadership program at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.