Evidence Base

Studies & Applications

Peer-reviewed research, clinical trial results, and conference presentations on the Lung Flute and Lung Flute ECO across Tuberculosis, COPD, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer.

View ongoing FLUTTE studies

2024|ERJ Open Research, 2024; 10: 00902-2023

Use of the Lung Flute ECO to assist in sputum collection for tuberculosis testing: a randomised crossover trial

Mbuli C, Vuchas C, Konso J, et al.

A randomised crossover trial conducted across eight health facilities in Cameroon assessed whether the Lung Flute ECO assists sputum collection in people evaluated for Tuberculosis. The device significantly improved adequacy of sputum volume for diagnostic testing and was well tolerated among participants aged 15 years and over, supporting its potential value at point-of-need in resource-limited settings.

2017|Clinical Respiratory Journal, 2017. DOI: 10.1111/crj.12697

Efficiency of the Lung Flute for sputum induction in patients with presumed pulmonary tuberculosis

Sakashita K, Fujita A, Takamori M, Nagai T, Matsumoto T, Saito T, et al.

A multi-centre study across seven Japanese hospitals evaluated the Lung Flute as a sputum induction tool in patients with presumed pulmonary Tuberculosis. The device enabled sputum collection in patients who could not spontaneously expectorate, demonstrating its clinical utility for improving the sensitivity of Tuberculosis microbiological diagnosis.

2015|Biomarker Insights, 2015; 10: 55-61. DOI: 10.4137/BMI.S26883

Analysis of Lung Flute-collected sputum for lung cancer diagnosis

Su J, Anjuman N, Guarnera MA, Zhang H, Stass SA, Jiang F.

This University of Maryland study compared parallel sputum samples collected with and without the Lung Flute from 56 early-stage lung cancer patients and 73 controls. Former smokers who could not spontaneously expectorate were able to produce sputum using the device. Analysis of three miRNAs (miRs-21, 31, 210) yielded 83.93% sensitivity and 87.67% specificity for lung cancer identification.

2014|Clinical and Translational Medicine, 2014; 3:29

Lung flute improves symptoms and health status in COPD with chronic bronchitis: a 26-week randomised controlled trial

Sethi S, Yin J, Anderson PK.

A 26-week randomised controlled trial in 69 COPD patients with chronic bronchitis found that twice-daily Lung Flute use produced significant improvement in the symptom domain of the Chronic COPD Questionnaire and in health status as measured by the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire. The BODE score remained stable in the Lung Flute arm versus deterioration in controls.

2013|Clinical and Translational Medicine, 2013; 2:15

Evaluation of Lung Flute in sputum samples for molecular analysis of lung cancer

Anjuman N, Li N, Guarnera M, Stass SA, Jiang F.

43 stage I lung cancer patients and 47 cancer-free individuals unable to spontaneously expectorate were enrolled. The Lung Flute enabled sputum collection from 90.7% of cancer patients and 89.4% of controls. MicroRNA analysis of the collected specimens (miRs-31 and 210) showed significantly higher expression in cancer patients, with combined miRNA analysis outperforming cytology in sensitivity for lung cancer diagnosis.

2013|Sydney Children's Hospital, University of New South Wales, 2013.

Use of the Lung Flute for sputum induction in children with cystic fibrosis: a pilot study

Doumit M.

This pilot study at Sydney Children's Hospital assessed the Lung Flute in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) attending an outpatient clinic who were unable to produce sputum by coughing alone. A sputum sample was obtained on 26 of 50 occasions (52%). The device transmits acoustic waves of 16-22 Hz and positive expiratory pressure, and was found to be practical for use by children in an outpatient setting.

2012|ERS Congress 2012 Poster. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Manila, Philippines.

Adjunct treatment of pneumonia in children aged 6-18 years using a handheld sputum induction device

Uson MA, De Leon A, Balete B, Domagas LM, Punzalan JR.

Presented at the European Respiratory Society Annual Congress 2012, this randomised study in pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (PCAP B and C) found that children in the Lung Flute group demonstrated significantly improved cough frequency on Day 2 and improved cough quality on Days 2 and 3. Quality of life improvements were observed on Days 1 and 2, with earlier effective sputum induction versus controls.

2012|ERS Congress 2012 Poster.

Lung Flute vs Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) in COPD

Medical Acoustics LLC.

An ERS 2012 conference poster comparing the Lung Flute with the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The poster presents comparative data on mucus clearance and patient usability outcomes between the two airway clearance modalities.

2009|Respirology, 2009

Novel method for sputum induction using the Lung Flute in patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis

Fujita A, Murata K, Takamori M.

This preliminary trial enrolled 34 patients unable to expectorate spontaneously. Using the Lung Flute, sputum was collected from 30 of 34 patients (88%) within 10 to 20 minutes. The device enabled rapid Tuberculosis diagnosis in 7 of 15 confirmed cases, including 4 patients whose smears were negative but PCR was positive, suggesting it may improve diagnostic sensitivity.