Percussive aid for the treatment of chronic lung disease

A portable, lightweight, percussive aid for use in the external treatment of chronic lung disease in humans by effectively delivering percussive force to the thoracic region of a patient's body and comprising:

• a frame means including opposing dorsal and ventral surfaces, opposing sides, and opposing ends which together define a cavity;
• first and second arm means having respective proximal ends and distal ends, the proximal end of each of said arm means being connected in cantilever fashion to said frame with said cavity, and wherein said cantilever connection is the sole anchor and support for each of said arm means, each of said arm means being adapted for unimpeded frictionless movement between a cocked position and a contact position,
• a spring means having a proximal end and a distal end operatively associated with each of said arm means and wherein the proximal end of said spring means cooperates with said frame means and the distal end cooperates with said arm means;
• an impactor cup means connected to each of said arm means proximate the distal end thereof,
• a drive means carried by said frame means for alternately moving each of said respective arm means through a predetermined path of travel from an uncocked position to a cocked position of maximum deflection when said respective arm means is released,
• whereby when said percussive aid is placed in contacting relation with the thoracic region of a patient and the respective arm means are moved in predetermined sequential relation between the uncocked, cocked and contact positions, kinetic energy is transferred to the patient to effectively aid in the clearing of bronchial passageways.