Biphasic Cuirass Ventilation (BCV™) works by facilitating the normal function of the lungs. When we inhale naturally, our respiratory muscles contract, causing our diaphragm to flatten and our chest wall to expand, pulling air into our lungs. Upon exhalation, those same muscles relax, pushing air out of our lungs. BCV™ mimics this process as a noninvasive form of ventilation and assist those that have either a chronic or acute need for respiratory assistance. BCV™ offers comfortable, mask-free, non-invasive respiratory support for adult and pediatric patients.
BCV controls both phases of the respiratory cycle using a cuirass shell. Coupled with its HFCWO and cough options to deliver multifunction respiratory support, BCV is the only non-invasive ventilation tool to support the work of breathing in a physiological way.
Contrary to what most Vest manufacturers claim, they are delivering high frequency chest wall compressions, not oscillation. Rather than the pull and push motions against the chest of HFCWO, HFCWC squeezes then relies on the chest wall’s natural rebound to return to the starting point, potentially inducing atelectasis. Atelectasis can be dangerous! Did you know there are no known risks of inducing atelectasis with BCV?
High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) occurs when 2 forces are sequentially applied to first compress, then expand the chest wall. The term oscillation refers to both a compression, and expansion motion of a surface to either side of a central point. This motion is distinctive from the mode of therapy of chest wall percussion as that mode depresses only inward, with return to baseline. Only devices that can apply both compression and distension of the chest wall can be truly qualified as a chest wall oscillator. The benefit of this intervention is the ability to attune the frequency of vibration more effectively to the quality of sputum for the patient/disease process. This serves to accelerate the liquefaction of the sputum thus allowing easier expectoration. In HFCWO, the device transmits the oscillating wave throughout the thorax and patients often report it to be more comfortable than chest wall percussion or compression.
Coupled with its HFCWO and ventilation options, BCV delivers a cough assist mechanism that is administered for set periods, in cycle with periods of chest wall oscillation. Cough, assisted by the cuirass works by amplifying the natural cough mechanism of our patient. This can enhance the effectiveness of expectoration efforts of those with normal lung function, as well as supporting improved cough efficacy of those with compromised cough force through loss of pulmonary muscle or lung function.
It is in these compromised patients that BCV distinguishes itself from traditional vest style therapies. In addition to HFCWO, BCV offers a recruitment option in Continuous Negative and a NIV option in the biphasic ventilation settings. It naturally enhances chest wall excursion and opens the lung, while vest therapy naturally restricts it. In those patients with already impaired cough strength, there is little reserve left that can allow for any further compromise. Employment of BCV at any stage of disease is optimal as it will not accelerate any deterioration of lung function. It can also support, and possibly improve the lung function of more advanced disease processes. Utilizing BCV therapy early in any disease process gives the optimal chance of good pulmonary outcomes with no chance of restricting lung function.
