Induced Sputum Collection in COPD Patients With and Without a Vibroacoustic Device

Induced sputum is a non-invasive method to collect samples from the airways. It involves inhaling a saline mist to loosen mucus, which is then coughed up. The samples are used to study markers of lung disease. In some people, this procedure yields only small amounts of sample. This study looks at whether adding a vibroacoustic device during sputum induction can increase the amount of sputum collected in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The device applies gentle sound-based vibrations to the chest to help move mucus in the airways. Each participant undergoes two sputum collection procedures on separate days: one with and one without the device. The order is assigned at random. The main comparison is the amount of sputum obtained with versus without the device in the same person. The study also assesses how well the procedure is tolerated.