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1.5.1 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.

1.5.2 Principle of the medical device

The patient uses SIMEOX during successive relaxed expirations.

SIMEOX sends 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.

1.5 Operating principles of SIMEOX