ABM BiWaze Cough Assist System with Foot Pedal

The ABM BiWaze® Cough System with Foot Pedal is a cough assist machine for patients who can't clear airway secretions on their own. This configuration adds a foot pedal so the clinician or carer can drive manual-mode therapy hands-free, keeping both hands on the mask and the patient. MEC is the exclusive Australian distributor of BiWaze Cough.

How the BiWaze Cough Works

BiWaze Cough is a mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) device that combines assisted cough, lung expansion and high-frequency oscillation in one system. It applies positive pressure to inflate the lungs (inhale), then rapidly shifts to negative pressure (exhale), producing a high expiratory flow that simulates a natural cough and moves mucus out of the airways.

After each exhale, a pause phase lets the patient rest before the next assisted cough. BiWaze Cough can hold positive pressure during the pause. This creates a higher mean airway pressure and keeps functional residual capacity higher after exhalation, for a more comfortable therapy experience. Oscillation can be added to selected phases of the cycle to help loosen and mobilise secretions.

Two separate blowers inside the control unit handle the inhale and exhale air flow. The Dual Lumen Breathing Circuit, an alternative to the standard single-path circuit, extends that separation through a coaxial filter and coaxial breathing tube. Inhaled air travels through the outer tube and exhaled air through the inner tube, which helps ensure inhaled air is not contaminated with mucus and bacteria from the exhaled air.

Foot Pedal: Hands-Free Manual Therapy

In Manual mode, the operator controls every breath. The set inhale pressure is delivered while "+" is held, exhale pressure while "−" is held, and pause pressure when neither is pressed. The foot pedal connects to the remote-control port on the side of the unit and performs the same inhale, exhale and pause control by foot, leaving both hands free to hold the mask seal and position the patient.

Therapy is started from the main screen first; the pedal then controls each breath in Manual mode. Disconnect the pedal after each session and store it safely to avoid tripping or entanglement. The pedal is optional to the device's operation, so Auto mode and the BiWaze Cough Remote app remain available. If you don't need a foot pedal, the standard ABM BiWaze Cough System is also available.

Key Features

• Foot pedal included: hands-free inhale, exhale and pause control in Manual mode
• Manual or Auto mode: cycle each breath yourself, or run a prescribed sequence automatically
• Inspiratory trigger (Auto mode): delivers the inhale as the patient starts to breathe in, with sensitivity adjustable from 1 to 10
• High-frequency oscillation: 5–20 Hz at amplitude 1–5, enabled per phase to help mobilise mucus
• Positive pressure on pause: up to 15 cmH₂O between coughs to help keep airways open
• 7-inch touchscreen: simple navigation with up to 10 stored therapy profiles
• Built-in lithium-ion battery: up to 2 hours of therapy per charge in a 4.1 kg unit (run time varies with settings and battery age)
• Remote control via app: start, stop and deliver manual breaths over Bluetooth

Clinical Indications

BiWaze Cough is designed for adults and children aged 3 years and over who cannot cough or clear secretions effectively due to reduced peak cough expiratory flow, resulting from high spinal cord injury, neuromuscular deficits or severe fatigue associated with intrinsic lung disease. It is intended for hospital, institutional and home-care settings, and is used via a face mask, mouthpiece, or endotracheal or tracheostomy tube.

Conditions commonly managed with cough assist therapy include:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and motor neurone disease (MND)
• Muscular dystrophy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Progressive bulbar palsy
• Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
• Spinal cord injury (SCI) and quadriplegia

Contraindications

BiWaze Cough is contraindicated in patients with any of the following pre-existing conditions:

• Known susceptibility to pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum
• Severe bullous lung disease
• Recent barotrauma to the lungs

Warnings

• Not to be operated by persons with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities
• Not to be used without a bacterial/viral filter. A new filter must be used for each new patient
• Not to be used in the presence of a flammable anaesthetic mixture or nitrous oxide

What's in the Box

• BiWaze Cough device
• Internal lithium-ion battery
• Foot pedal with cable
• Single-path standard breathing circuit
• Patient port adapter
• Carry bag
• Air inlet bacterial/viral (B/V) filter
• User manual (English)

Circuits, Consumables and Accessories

BiWaze Cough uses its own ABM circuits. Circuits from other cough assist machines, such as the Philips CoughAssist E70, are not interchangeable. Standard circuits are available with a child face mask, adult face mask (small, medium and large), mouthpiece or tracheostomy connection. Replacement air inlet filters and a mobile cart for ward use are also available. Browse all cough assist consumables.

BiWaze Cough Remote App

The BiWaze® Cough Remote app lets you control the BiWaze® Cough system via Bluetooth. The app can start and stop therapy in both delivery modes, and initiate the inhalation and exhalation breath during Manual mode.

BiWaze Cough Training Videos

Complete training video

How to clean the system

Demonstrations, Training and Funding

MEC provides demonstrations, setup and in-service training for clinical teams, patients and carers, and can prepare quotes for hospital procurement, NDIS plans and DVA. See the BiWaze Cough System overview for brochures, the user manual and FAQs.

Request a demo or quote