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ESCANABA -- Respiratory patients at OSF St. Francis Hospital can now breathe easier, thanks to a new piece of technology.

The new airway clearance system uses an air valve to clear mucous in the lungs.

“He has bronchiectasis,” explains respiratory therapist, Stephanie Cocking.  “It’s a disease which will cause your lungs to produce a lot of mucus."

Many of the patients have some form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

Gene Jones was the first patient to try the vest.  So far he's had a month of treatments three times a week, for forty-five minutes.   

“I can't say that it's improved enough,” said his wife, Alice.  “But he's more relaxed about it, I would say."    

It's as easy as flipping the switch on, selecting the program, increasing or decreasing the speed, and then attaching the vest to the patient.

Before this latest technology, respiratory therapists had to be more hands-on...literally.  They used to have to use their hands to percuss the patient to loosen fluid buildup.

But the new electronic vest is more effective and efficient.  It's also more comfortable for the patient and the therapist.    

“It's a lot more effective, because you don't have to lay the patient down,” Cocking said.  “The patient can be sitting, they can be lying in a bed flat.  They can really be in any position to do the vest."

OSF has three airway clearance systems in the Respiratory Department.  They were purchased with grant dollars from the Hannahville Indian Community.