Breakthrough "AffloVest" Greatly Advances Respiratory Care

AUSTIN, Texas, May 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A new High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) vest that gives respiratory patients the freedom to move around during treatments is now available in the United States, International Biophysics Corporation (IBC) announced today. The AffloVest – already widely prescribed in Europe – represents a major advancement in the treatment of respiratory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Cystic Fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, and similar related ailments. IBC recently received the necessary FDA 510k clearance to sell the AffloVest product domestically.

Unlike current airway clearance vests that tether the patient by an air hose to bulky machines, which require direct electrical current, the AffloVest is the first-ever portable, battery-operated HFCWO vest. Users can move about freely during treatments, or have the option to sit comfortably in almost any environment. 

"Mobility is a huge differentiating factor with this vest," says a leading COPD advocate Bill Clark, who has tested the AffloVest. "The vest offers three distinctly different modes of therapy. By utilizing all three therapies in each session, the AffloVest provides for successful airway clearance. One of the programs, which involves percussion movements from the lower back and chest to the upper back and chest, felt incredible and helped bring a productive cough more quickly. I was even able to return phone calls and move from room to room during the treatment," Clark said.

Weighing approximately 10 pounds, AffloVest is also the lightest and most quiet device of its kind on the market today. And unlike other respiratory vest options, AffloVest provides adjustable levels of treatment intensity. Doctors and patients can tailor their treatments to their needs, with settings that provide chest wall oscillation treatment on both the front and back of the vest.

AffloVest is available in a full range of sizes – to serve both children and adults with chronic lung conditions. The number of patients who can benefit from this innovative treatment is significant. There are currently more than 10 million people in the United States diagnosed with COPD, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

AffloVest requires a physician's prescription and is now available to U.S. patients through Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Home Medical Equipment (HME) retailers.

About International Biophysics Corporation
International Biophysics Corporation (IBC) is a privately held company that develops, manufactures, and sells a variety of complex medical devices. IBC's design and development capabilities include: CAD drawings/CAD interface, prototype development, initial product testing, tooling, mold design and manufacture, validation testing, and FDA submission. IBC is an ISO 13485 certified company registered with the FDA, and is based in Austin, Texas. The distribution arm of IBC sells equipment and supplies ranging from centrifugal heart pumps, aortic punches, and blood suctioning wands. Its research and development team has also been involved in Portable Oxygen Concentrator development, dermatological laser devices, and other projects in various industries.

SOURCE International Biophysics Corporation