Assessing a cough assist system for people with cystic fibrosis

Project Duration – 1 years

People living with cystic fibrosis (CF) spend hours every day clearing thick, sticky mucus from their lungs. Airway clearance therapy is essential to help prevent infection and protect lung function, but it can be physically demanding, uncomfortable and time-consuming.

Raynuka Lazarus and Professor Peter Middleton are leading the Pegaso Clearance Airway Study, which aims to assess an innovative cough assist system designed specifically for people living with CF. Most existing cough assist devices, were developed for people with weakened breathing muscles, and need to be used in hospital often with oxygen. The Pegaso system is is a device that can be used in hospital or remotely and does not require oxygen, and may make airway clearance more effective and comfortable.

With Cure4CF’s funding, the team will:

• Refine and optimise the Pegaso cough assist system for use in people with CF.
• Evaluate how effectively the device helps clear mucus from the lungs.
• Assess comfort, ease of use and the overall treatment experience.
• Generate the evidence needed to support future clinical studies and translation into clinical care.

Why is Pegaso needed?

For people living with CF, clearing mucus from the lungs is a lifelong part of daily treatment. Even with existing physiotherapy techniques and airway clearance devices, mucus can remain trapped in the airways, increasing the risk of infection, inflammation and progressive lung damage.

Current cough assist devices were originally designed for people who have difficulty coughing because of muscle weakness. They are not specifically designed for people with CF, whose challenge is clearing thick, sticky mucus rather than generating a cough.

The Pegaso aims to bridge this gap by with a cough assist system focussed on airway clearance effectiveness while reducing the burden of daily treatment.

What is unique about this project?

Pegaso is being designed specifically for the needs of people living with CF.

Rather than simply helping someone cough harder, the system is works to optimise airflow and mucus movement within the lungs. By working with the body’s natural breathing and coughing mechanics, Pegaso aims to improve mucus clearance in a way that is more effective, more comfortable and easier to incorporate into everyday life.

This research brings together expertise in physiotherapy, respiratory medicine and clinical research to develop a practical solution that could improve one of the most time-consuming aspects of living with CF.

What will be the pathway to moving this technology into the clinic?

This one-year study will provide the evidence needed to refine the Pegaso system and evaluate its potential for people living with CF.

If successful, the findings will support larger clinical studies to further assess the safety, effectiveness and real-world benefits of the technology. The long-term goal is to make Pegaso available as a new airway clearance option that can be integrated into routine clinical care.

By making airway clearance more effective and less burdensome, Pegaso has the potential to improve lung health, reduce treatment burden and enhance quality of life for people living with CF.