Patent ID: 7278978

Claim:
A vest for applying repetitive pressure pulses to the front of the thorax of a person comprising: a cover having a front panel, a back panel and shoulder portions connecting the front panel to the back panel and an opening between said panels to allow the vest to be placed over a person's head and around the thorax of the person, releasable fasteners attached to the front and back panels operable to retain the vest around the thorax of the person, a bladder having an inner wall and an outer wall, means securing the outer wall to said front panel of the cover, said bladder having an air chamber between said inner and outer walls, an air receiving passage along a lower portion of the bladder for receiving pressurized air and air pressure pulses, openings between said inner and outer walls allowing air to flow from the air passage into the air chamber, an open member comprising a flexible coil spring located in and extended along the length of said air receiving passage for allowing air to flow in said passage and through said openings into the air chamber, and at least one hole in the inner wall for allowing air to flow out of the air chamber.