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Disease & Condition

Living with bronchiectasis?

Bronchiectasis causes the airways to become widened and damaged. Mucus can collect in these widened areas, where a cough can't always reach it.

The problem

Why does mucus get stuck?

It starts with the shape of the airways themselves.

STEP 1 widened pocket
Damaged airways widen and form pockets
STEP 2 mucus pools in the pocket
Mucus pools in the pockets
STEP 3 cough airflow passes over the pocket
A cough alone can't always reach it
Damaged airways form pockets. Mucus pools in the pockets. And a cough alone can't always reach it.
The vicious cycle

Mucus. Infection. Inflammation. Repeat.

When mucus becomes trapped, germs can grow more easily. This may lead to infection and inflammation, causing more airway damage — and even more mucus collection. The cycle continues.

The cycle can be interrupted. It starts with mobilizing and clearing the mucus.

The vicious cycle: mucus buildup, infection, inflammation, airway damage, then more mucus
The goal of therapy

Break the cycle.

Airway clearance therapy is designed to help move mucus out of the airways — so germs have fewer places to grow, and your cough finally has something it can move.

1

Open the airway

Gentle positive pressure can hold airways open, creating a path for secretions to move.

2

Shake it loose

High-frequency oscillation vibrates mucus until it lets go of the airway walls.

3

Thin it out

Aerosol can help thin and loosen mucus so it more easily moves toward the upper airways.

It opens the pipe, shakes the gunk loose, and thins it out — so your cough finally has something it can move.
Your options

There's more than one way to clear airways.

Some people do better with a vest, a handheld device, or something else. Your care team knows your picture, and they can help you decide.

Vest therapy

Uses external chest wall oscillation — a vest worn around the chest that vibrates from the outside.

Handheld devices

Small devices you breathe through to create positive pressure or oscillation, used in short sessions through the day.

Oscillating lung expansion (OLE)

Delivers oscillation internally via mouthpiece, mask, or trach adapter — designed to create high-frequency oscillations with expiratory flow bias to help move mucus toward the upper airways.

Is this right for me?

Bring these to your next appointment.

We can't answer these — your care team can. Screenshot this page and take it with you.

"Is my current airway clearance routine adequately managing my mucus burden?"

"Could BiWaze Clear be appropriate for my condition?"

"How would it fit into or replace parts of my current treatment routine?"

One option to ask about

See how BiWaze® Clear works.

Three therapies, one system, one ~10-minute session — airway clearance that goes beyond "shaking" mucus.

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