The Vest - Minnesota Protocol
Minnesota Protocol
The standard protocol can be used with the following vest machines, Hill-Rom model 104 and newer, In-Courage System by Respir-Tech, and the Smart Vest.
Setting a Starting Pressure for the vest:
- If this is your first time using the vest, you will need to set up a Starting Pressure
- Set the Frequency to 8 Hz and the Pressure to 6
- Press the ON button (or foot pedal)
- After a minute or two of being on the vest, increase the Pressure to 7
- Give yourself another minute or so to get used to this setting
- Keep increasing the pressure in this fashion until you reach the point where you no longer feel comfortable, at which time you can back the pressure setting down by one
- The maximum pressure setting is 10
- You have now established your Starting Pressure and are ready to begin treatment
How do I perform a treatment?
There will be 6 cycles of treatment. Each cycle uses a different frequency setting. Follow the steps below to complete your treatment.
Setting the machine for the 1st cycle of treatment:
- Make the following setting on the machine:
- Frequency = 8 Hz
- Pressure = your Starting Pressure
- Time = 5 minutes
- Press the ON button to begin treatment
- After five minutes of treatment, pause the vest generator to deflate the vest (if the vest does not deflate disconnect one end of one of the hoses)
- Perform two or three sets of Huff Coughs to remove mucus from your lungs
Note: During vest treatments, you will want to keep your airways moist by taking a nebulizer treatment during the entire time you are on the vest. One way to do this is by filling your nebulizer cup with about 6-8 mL of sterile normal saline.
Repeat Steps 2 – 4 for remaining cycles
Setting the machine for the 2nd - 6th cycle of treatment:
- You will do five more treatment cycles
- Each 5-minute cycle will have a different frequency setting and starting pressure
- Cycle 2:
- Frequency setting = 9 Hz
- Starting pressure = Same as 1st treatment
- Time = 5 minutes
- Cycle 3:
- Frequency setting = 10 Hz
- Starting pressure = decrease setting by one
- Time = 5 minutes
- Cycle 4:
- Frequency setting = 18 Hz
- Starting pressure = decrease setting by 2/3 (see chart below)
- Time = 5 minutes
- Cycle 5:
- Frequency setting = 19 Hz
- Starting pressure = same as Cycle 4
- Time = 5 minutes
- Cycle 6:
- Frequency setting = 20 Hz
- Starting pressure = Same as Cycle 4 and Cycle 5
- Time = 5 minutes
| Frequency Setting |
Pressure Setting
If your starting pressure is: |
| 6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| 8 and 9 Hz |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| 10 Hz |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
| 18, 19, 20 Hz |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Pressure settings are read from the Starting Pressure down
Contact Us
For additional information on this or any Health Topic, please call the Family Resource Center, 513-636-7606, or your pediatrician.
Rev. 6/09
