This Phase I application requests support to develop a unique, patentable, medical device for use in chest physiotherapy. The device stimulates mucous transport rates and mucociliary clearance. The specific aim of this project is to design, construct, and conduct animal testing of the device. Testing will be done in sheep; measurements of mucous transport rates, lung clearance, recovery of mucous, and respiratory function will be taken. The objectives of these experiments will be:(1) to develop specifications for the device;(2) to determine which parameters are important to the biological response; and(3) to produce the most efficient and practical device/subject interphase.A Phase II application will follow that will provide for manufacture of prototypes for clinical testing. The clinical trials will be designed to duplicate in humans the results obtained in sheep. The study population will consist of patients with normal mucus production but hnpaired mucocfliary clearance, e.g., postoperative patients and patients with copious mucus production due to chronic bronchitis and cystic fibrosis.This device will have wide clinical applications in acute care, extended care, and in the home. It could favorably impact on health care costs by decreasing the need for and duration of hospitalization for acute or extended care.
Thesaurus Terms: Biomedical Engineering, Instrumentation Clinically Oriented, Health Care Services, Physical Therapy, Physical Properties, Mechanical Vibrations, Respiratory System, Bronchial Mucus, Therapy, Ultrasonic Therapy Body Regions, Thorax, Metabolic Disorders Inborn, Cystic Fibrosis, Respiratory Disorders, Bronchitis Acute, Surgery, Postoperative, Bioenergetics, Respiratory Function Mammals, Artiodactyla, Sheep National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
