A new in vitro white paper, “Assessment of Oscillatory Pressure and Flow Waveforms with the BiWaze® Clear System,” presents detailed findings on how airway clearance therapy using high-frequency oscillation (HFO) can be optimized through system design and pressure control.
Conducted by researchers at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Institute, this study evaluated the BiWaze® Clear system against another oscillating lung expansion (OLE) therapy device, the Volara® System, under spontaneous breathing conditions in adult and pediatric lung models with normal, obstructive, and restrictive mechanics.
Key Findings from the White Paper:
BiWaze Clear consistently achieved positive expiratory flow bias (EFB)—a critical indicator for mobilizing mucus toward the central airways—across all simulated patient conditions.
PIF/PEF ratios remained below 0.9 with BiWaze Clear, supporting secretion clearance, while the comparator system often showed inspiratory flow bias (ratios >1).
BiWaze Clear delivered oscillatory pressures closer to the set values with lower variability, resulting in improved pressure control and consistent therapy delivery.
In both pediatric and adult models, BiWaze Clear demonstrated higher peak expiratory flows (PEF) and more favorable pressure dynamics than the comparator system.
The study attributed these differences to BiWaze Clear’s unique design features, including:
A dual-blower system for independent control of inhalation and exhalation,
A sealed, closed-circuit breathing system that minimizes pressure leakage,
And active pressure release to maintain expiratory flow bias, particularly in obstructive or restrictive conditions.
This study serves as a foundation for understanding how oscillatory pressure dynamics can influence secretion clearance, and supports continued clinical evaluation of BiWaze Clear’s potential impact on respiratory outcomes.