The Hill-Rom The Vest® 105 Airway Clearance System
The Hillrom The Vest® Airway Clearance System, Model 105 for home use is designed to assist patients in the mobilization of retained secretions that, if not removed, may lead to increased rates of respiratory infection, hospitalization and reduced lung function.
The Vest® System can assist in airway clearance for patients suffering from airway clearance dysfunction, secretion retention and/or ineffective cough or secretion clearance due to immobility, deconditioning or muscle weakness. The Vest® Airway Clearance System, Model 105 represents technology from the innovators of High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation or HFCWO.
This therapy utilizes a device that generates increased airflow velocities that create cough-like shear forces and decreases secretion viscosity. Both serve to assist patients in moving retained secretions from smaller airways to larger airways where they can more easily be removed by coughing, which helps patients breathe a little easier.
All of our Airway Clearance System can be found in our Shop.
All of our Hillrom 105 Systems can be found here.
The Hill-Rom Vest Model 105 Airway Clearance System helps respiratory patients maintain clear airways. Certain respiratory patients may retain mucus due to airway clearance dysfunctions. Other patients may struggle with secretion retention and/or an ineffective cough. Another patient group that use the Hill-Rom Vest Model 105 Airway Clearance System may produce excess mucus secretion. Hospitalized or immobile user may also struggle with airway clearance. Sometimes, people that have been sick for some time may benefit from HFCWO (High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation) treatments to help them clear their airways. For patients that are struggling with neuromuscular conditions or paraplegia the Vest treatments may also help. Finally, patients that suffer from other conditions that cause muscle weakness may also find CPT (Chest Percussion Therapy) using the Hill-Rom Vest helpful.
We offer following categories / Guarantee options:
| Category | Existing Use Hours | Guarantee |
| New | 0.0 hours | 5 year / 1000 hours |
| Demo | 0.1-1 hour | 4 year / 800 hour Guarantee |
| Standard | 1-100 hours | 2 year / 500 hour Guarantee |
| Economy | 101 – 200 hours | 1 year / 200 hour Guarantee |
| Special | 200 – 400 hours | 6 months / 100 hour Guarantee |
The Most Commonly Used Airway Clearance System
The Hill-Rom Vest 105 Airway Clearance System is the most commonly used High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) system in the world. The predecessor, the Model 104 Vest, was the first portable airway clearance device. It allowed patients to receive their CPT (chest percussion therapy) in the comfort of their own home. Prior to that, patients had to go to a hospital, clinic or a rehabilitation facility to receive HFCWO therapy. Hill-Rom revolutionized the treatment of many respiratory patients and saved caregivers and medical professional a lot of time compared to manual percussion therapy. And because HFCWO treatment is more comfortable than manual percussion therapy, it is easier to reach better compliance.
Components of the Hill-Rom The Vest® 105 Airway Clearance System
The Hill-Rom Vest uses an air pulse generator to create high frequency oscillations. These oscillations range from 5 – 20 Hz. The oscillations are transmitted from the air pulse generator via a set of two hoses to a vest garment. Then, the vest garment transfers them to the user’s torso. These oscillations liquify excess mucus in the lungs. They further help to move it from the smaller to the larger airways. Once liquified, and in the larger airways, the user can then cough up excess mucus.
Here is a link on how patients with bronchiectasis benefit from HCWO treatments.
Vest Garments for the Hill-Rom Vest
The Hill-Rom Vest Model 105 Airway Clearance System can accommodates a wide variety of vest garments. These vest garments are available in many different sizes and colors.
The most important factor for choosing the correct Hill-Rom vest style:
- Determine if the user is fully mobile and can stand and sit without assistance. For these patients, the Hill-Rom washable C3 vest garment may be the best choice. The C3 vest garments are more effective because the air bladders are both in the front, the sides and in the back. The C3 vest garments should NOT be used for patients that are going to be using them while laying in bed. If used in bed, the patient will bounce up and down due to the air pulses between their back and the mattress.
- If the patient is bedridden, a Hill-Rom Vest Wrap may be the most appropriate vest garment. This particular garment only has an inflation pocket in the front (chest). Even though treatments are not nearly as powerful, it may be the best choice of garments. In addition, the vest wrap is much easier for a patient / caregiver to put on when lying in bed.
Note: Both vest styles use the same hoses.
Vest garments for the Hill-Rom 105 Vest System: C3 Vest or Vest Wrap
The most common vest garment for patients that can sit or stand without assistance is the Washable C3 garment. The inflation bladder covers the entire torso, front and back, maximizing treatment effectiveness. These garments have a cover (blue, pink, purple, black, camouflage) and a removable bladder. The bladder has to be removed via a zipper on the bottom of the vest garment prior to washing the cover.
Washable C3 Vest Garment used by patients that can sit / stand without assistance.
Vest Wrap – For patients that are not able to stand / sit without assistance.
Hillrom C3 Vest Garment Size Chart
| Child X Small: | 16″-19″ chest size |
| Child Small: | 19″-23″ chest size and 13″ long |
| Child Medium: | >23″-27″ chest size and 16″ long |
| Child Large: | >27″-31″ chest circumference and 17″ long |
| Adult X Small Slim: | >27″-31″ chest circumference and 18″ long |
| Adult Small: | >31″-36″ chest circumference and 18″ long |
| Adult Medium: | >36″-45″ chest circumference and 18″ long |
| Adult Large: | >45″-52″ chest circumference and 22″ long |
Hillrom Vest Wrap Size Chart
| X Small: | 13-19″ chest circumference |
| Small: | 23- 33″ chest circumference |
| Medium: | 33-43″ chest circumference |
| Large: | 43-53″ chest circumference |
| X-Large | 53-63″ chest circumference |
| XX-Large | 63-73” chest circumference |
All Hill-Rom Vest® Airway Clearance System Model 105s are sold with
- an air pulse unit
- an airline compliant, rolling travel bag
- set of two air hoses.
- one vest garment, either a C3 or a vest wrap
- user manual
- quick start guide
Here is a link to the Cystic Foundation’s description of the Hill-Rom Vest 105.
More Information about the Hillrom vest system
Obviously, we cannot possibly describe all features of this airway clearance system here, along with information about international shipping, import duties, taxes, service and bulk purchases. Please send us a message through the contact page for more information.