1.6 Operating principles of SIMEOX

1.6.1 Physical principle

SIMEOX is the result of five years of research at

PHYSIO-ASSIST studying the rheology of bronchial

mucus under the influence of a vibratory pneumatic

signal.

SIMEOX generates a succession of very short negative

pressure pulses of a constant air volume at a frequency

similar to that of the vibrating cilia of the bronchial

epithelium during relaxed expiration by the patient,

spreading a vibratory pneumatic signal throughout

the whole bronchial tree which acts directly on mucus

viscosity and mobilisation.

Laboratory tests and digital simulations demonstrate

that our technology exerts a significant liquefying and

draining action on bronchial mucus.

1.6.2 Principle of the medical device

The patient uses SIMEOX during successive relaxed

expirations.

SIMEOX generates a low frequency vibratory pneumatic

signal throughout the whole patient’s bronchial tree,

liquefying the mucus and transporting it from the most

distal parts of the peripheral airways to the central

trunks to promote its removal by the patient when

they expectorate at the end of the session or after

the sessions.

Between each very short negative pressure pulse

generated by the vibratory pneumatic signal, the

patient is reconnected to atmospheric pressure. The

patient is thus maintained largely at atmospheric

pressure for most of the expiration time (70%) in

order to avoid any risk of bronchial collapse, the main

obstacle to clearance of the peripheral airways.

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