The AffloVest from Tactile Medical utilizes oscillating motors to mobilize lung secretions and improve patient treatment adherence.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Mobile Airway Clearance: The AffloVest is a fully mobile high frequency chest wall oscillation therapy that operates without bulky generators or air bladders to help patients manage chronic respiratory conditions.
- Clinical Outcomes: Use of the therapy has been shown to reduce antibiotic prescriptions, hospitalizations, and outpatient visits for patients struggling with secretion mobilization.
- Customized Treatment: The system utilizes eight oscillating motors to deliver three distinct modes of therapy that mimic manual chest physical therapy, including percussion, vibration, and drainage.
Tactile Medical is offering the AffloVest, a high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy designed to mobilize lung secretions and promote treatment adherence for patients with respiratory and neuromuscular conditions. The device is the first HFCWO vest that is fully mobile during use, as it does not require bulky generators or air bladder technology.
The technology is intended to fit into a patient’s daily life to improve adherence for daily treatment sessions. According to product specifications from Tactile Medical, the therapy is effective at reducing antibiotic prescriptions, decreasing hospitalizations, and reducing outpatient visits.
The device utilizes patented Direct Dynamic Oscillation technology, which features eight oscillating motors. These motors create individual pressure waves that target all lobes of the lungs. The technology was designed to mobilize secretions by mimicking manual chest physical therapy (CPT).
The system offers three levels of intensity and three unique modes designed to replicate hand CPT:
- Percussion: All motors operate in a pulsed fashion using a regular rhythm.
- Vibration: All motors remain on continuously to provide deep oscillation of the thoracic cavity.
- Drainage: Individual zones are activated in succession to move secretions upward.
In a recent study, participants overwhelmingly preferred AffloVest over bladder style vests for comfort, auditory experience, lifestyle and use around others, according to Tactile Medical. Participants reported 93% for overall preference, 90% for likelihood of daily use, and 93% for fit with lifestyle, the company reports.
The vest is available in eight sizes with no age restrictions. To ensure a proper fit for various body types, the company provides a size exchange program that allows patients to adjust their vest size as needed for targeted airway clearance.
The AffloVest has received 510k clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for US market availability. It is approved for reimbursement under Medicare, Medicaid, and private healthcare insurance using the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code E0483. The therapy is also available through the US Department of Veterans Affairs and Tricare for patients who meet specific eligibility and coverage requirements.
Source
- https://respiratory-therapy.com/products-treatment/monitoring-treatment/therapy-devices/products-2025-secretion-clearance-suction/
- https://afflovest.com/the-afflovest-difference/
