A pulmonary expansion therapy (PXT) device may be a handheld device that covers specific lung fields and may generate negative pressure fields locally. The device also may provide vibratory/percussion therapy for airway clearance. The PXT may generate a localized negative pressure field non-invasively to the exterior of the chest wall, thereby increasing the functional residual capacity in underlying lung fields. As a result, increased ventilation and perfusion to the targeted internal lung field may be achieved by creating a decrease in the external barometric pressure relative to the more positive intrinsic airway pressures. The PXT device also may improve lung compliance by enabling a medical professional to grab and elevate the chest wall to compensate for the dysfunction of the respiratory musculature responsible for lifting the chest wall. In some embodiments, once a targeted functional residual capacity (FRC) has been established, vibration or percussion may be applied.
