ICS – 1 System: Airway Clearance Therapy

Strong lungs play an important role in staying healthy. One function of the lungs is to secrete mucus to trap inhaled fine particles and harmful bacteria, viruses, and spores. Other mechanisms, called cilia and cough, then work to move this mucus from the body. A variety of devices and/or techniques classified as airway clearance therapies (ACT) are prescribed to help clear airway secretions when they are not being evacuated naturally. Many forms of ACT are available. Among them, high frequency chest compression (HFCC) therapy is the only method that provides reliably consistent therapy, requires no special skills or techniques and can be used independently by many patients.