
What is a green Acapella flutter valve?
Acapella Flutter Valve. High-Flow- Green The green model of this acapella device is high flow, working more than 15 LPM for three seconds. Acapella Flutter Valve is a Respiratory and acapella device used for Breathing Therapy that combines the benefits of PEP therapy and airway vibrations to mobilize pulmonary secretions.
What is the acapella valve?
The Acapella Valve is a unique handheld device that keeps your lungs clear of mucus so you can breathe easy. It combines the benefits of positive expiratory pressure or PEP therapy with airway vibrations.
What is a flutter valve used for?
What is a Flutter Valve? A flutter valve is a handheld device that is used as a type breathing therapy. It helps to clear mucus from the lungs as well as make breathing easier and more comfortable. It is a triangularly shaped cylinder and is sometimes green or blue in color.
How do Acapella devices work?
Acapella devices are similar to flutter valves in that they create PEP and vibrations when you exhale into them. However, rather than being shaped like a pipe, they are shaped like a cone. Plus, they are not gravity-dependent. For this reason, they can be used in pretty much any position. 1

What is the difference between flutter valve and Acapella?
Background: Oscillatory positive expiratory pressure (PEP) with the Flutter device facilitates secretion removal. In the Flutter a steel ball vibrates inside a cone, causing air flow vibration. A new device, the Acapella, uses a counterweighted plug and magnet to create air flow oscillation.
What is a flutter valve for a nebulizer?
A flutter valve helps to clear mucus from your lungs as well as make breathing easier and more comfortable. A flutter valve is a type of oscillatory Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) therapy that loosens secretions in the lungs and helps the patient to cough them up in order to clear the airways.
How does a flutter valve work?
The Flutter is shaped like a pipe with a steel ball on a cone inside. You must hold the Flutter at the right angle to make it work. Blowing into the mouthpiece makes the steel ball rise and fall. Breathing into the Flutter sends vibrations throughout your lungs that help loosen the trapped mucus.
What does an Acapella device do?
The Acapella® Choice is a device used as part of a treatment to help people who have difficulty clearing sputum (phlegm) from their lungs. The equipment consists of a mouthpiece, cover, rocker assembly/platform base (counterweighted plug and magnet) and the base unit including the adjustment dial.
How do you use Acapella flutter valve?
2:168:37What is a Flutter Valve? (Acapella, PEP) Airway Clearance - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can sit in a chair by keeping your back. Straight keep your elbows resting comfortably on theMoreYou can sit in a chair by keeping your back. Straight keep your elbows resting comfortably on the table. And then tilt your head slightly upward.
What does Acapella do for lungs?
The Acapella Choice® airway clearance device is used to help remove mucus from the airways. The device may be used after taking a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator medication (as prescribed by your doctor). The medication helps open the airways to make the technique more effective.
How often should you use an Acapella device?
Repeat steps 1 through 7 for 15 minutes 2 to 4 times a day (or as prescribed by your health care provider). Your health care provider will tell you how many times a day to use the Acapella. If you use a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator, use the Acapella 15 minutes after you inhale the medicine.
How often should you use flutter valve?
The Flutter should be cleaned twice weekly or more often if it is visibly soiled. One of two methods can be used to clean your Flutter. Remove the mouthpiece from the Flutter.
Is flutter valve good for COPD?
In this study the investigators hypothesise that because the flutter helps clear the airways from the excessive thick mucus produced by COPD patients, these patients may find it easier to breathe and have lower resistance to moving air in and out of their lungs.
How can I get rid of mucus in my lungs naturally?
Humidify the air. Moisturizing the air around you can help keep mucus thin. ... Stay hydrated and warm. ... Consume respiratory health-promoting ingredients. ... Gargle salt water or use saline. ... Use eucalyptus oil. ... Take over-the-counter remedies. ... Try prescription medications.
How do you clean Acapella flutter valve?
Clean the mouthpiece and body of the Acapella daily with Liquid Dish Detergent – Rinse with water. 30 minutes. Note: The Acapella should not be placed in the automatic dishwasher, boiled or bleached. Rinse in clean water.
Which Acapella device is best?
Acapella green seems to be the best device when patients are able to sustain a minimal expiratory pressure of 11 cm H2O with a flow of 30 L/min for at least 3 s. The Acapella blue device may be optimal for weaker patients who are able to generate expiratory pressures of 8–10 cm H2O at flows of only 12 L/min.
How often should you use flutter valve?
The Flutter should be cleaned twice weekly or more often if it is visibly soiled. One of two methods can be used to clean your Flutter. Remove the mouthpiece from the Flutter.
How do you use a Flutter?
Close your lips around the mouthpiece of the Flutter®, making sure there is a good seal. Take a slightly bigger than normal breath in through your nose and then breath out through the Flutter®. You may feel vibrations on your chest wall. Repeat eight to ten times.
What is the purpose of a flutter valve for patients with COPD and cystic fibrosis?
These vibrations reverberate to your airways, causing you to feel vibrations inside your chest. The idea is this will knock stubborn secretions off airway walls. This makes it easier to cough up secretions.
How do you clean a flutter valve?
0:573:21Acapella® - Chapter 4 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor 30 minutes method 3 place the unit in the top shelf of a dishwasher. For a normal cycle.MoreFor 30 minutes method 3 place the unit in the top shelf of a dishwasher. For a normal cycle.
What are flutter valves?
First of all, they are not really new devices. They have been used in hospitals for years. They have also been available for people with lung diseases for years. People most familiar with them may include patients with cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and COPD. Although, some people with asthma also may benefit from them.
What are acapella devices?
Acapella devices are similar to flutter valves in that they create PEP and vibrations when you exhale into them. However, rather than being shaped like a pipe, they are shaped like a cone. Plus, they are not gravity-dependent. For this reason, they can be used in pretty much any position. 1
What is a blue acapella?
Blue acapellas. These are for people who cannot generate a high flow (flows less than 15 LPM). So this makes them ideal for those with severe airflow limitation, or people with severe COPD.
What Are COPD Flare-Ups?
This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The COPD.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.
Why is the acapella valve good?
Why’s that good? The vibration opens up your airways, facilitating the movement of mucus. Exhaling against resistance creates back pressure or positive pressure which allows mucus to move from peripheral airways to the larger central airways so it can be coughed out. There are two types of Acapella Valve.
How does a valve work?
How’s it work? Inside the valve is a small steel ball in a cone shaped valve. As you exhale, the ball moves up and down, doing two things—a) vibrating your airways and b) making you exhale against resistance.
What is the best valve for exhaling?
The green or high flow valve is for users who can exhale at 15 liters per minute or more for at least three seconds. This works for most users. If your lungs are lower volume, you can use the blue or low flow valve. 1.
Can you use an acapella valve with a mask?
The Acapella Valve is designed to be easily cleaned and sterilized. Plus, it can be used with your mask or mouthpiece nebulizer. Good luck!
What is an acapella inhaler?
Acapella inhaler facilitates opening of airways in patients having lung diseases with secretory problems such as COPD, asthma and Cystic Fibrosis. It gives independence to patients with chronic respiratory diseases as the therapy can be done when convenient for the patient and without the need for an assistant.
What is the frequency of Acapella?
The result is a vibrating pressure waveform. For most users, frequencies between 0-30 Hz are obtained while maintaining positive pressure throughout the exhalation process. This is referred to as vibratory PEP therapy.
How to clean Acapella Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy System?
As needed, detach mouthpiece then soak the parts in warm soapy water, rinse and dry. Drain the device by placing the unit with the mouthpiece end downward, or by resting the unit on its side.
How many liters per minute is Acapella DH?
Green: Acapella DH is recommended for patients able to maintain an expiratory flow of 15 liters per minute or greater for 3 seconds. Blue: Acapella DM is recommended for patients capable of less than 15 liters per minute for 3 seconds.
How to adjust the flow resistance of Acapella breathing device?
Frequency and flow resistance of Acapella breathing device can be adjusted by turning an adjustment dial
How long does an Acapella last?
Assuming the manufacturer recommended cleaning protocol is followed, the Acapella device should have a useful life of six (6) months under normal and customary usage. The six (6) month usage duration is measured from the date of initial use.
What is the purpose of the Smiths Medical Acapella Vibratory PEP Therapy System?
Smiths Medical Acapella Vibratory PEP Therapy System combines the benefits of both PEP therapy and airway vibrations to mobilize pulmonary secretions. It can be used in virtually any position allowing patients to move freely and sit, stand or recline. Acapella inhaler facilitates opening of airways in patients having lung diseases with secretory problems such as COPD, asthma and Cystic Fibrosis. It gives independence to patients with chronic respiratory diseases as the therapy can be done when convenient for the patient and without the need for an assistant.