Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-23
POWER RESP|RATOR
AIDS ASPHYX|ATED
New Device in Bellevue I'M
provement Over Old One.
Works by Electricity.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, May 23.--victims of
accidents which interfere with breath
ing and circulation can now be resus-
citated by a respirator machine oper-
ated continuously by electricity, just
installed in Bellevue Hospital. 1t is
introduced as the first satisfactory ap-
pliance for administering artificial res
piration over long periods. 1t could
have been employed. for instance, to
take the place of 20 policemen who
worked in relays for five days to restore
an unconscious woman. Its range COW
ers asphyzia due to electric shock, con-
cussion, gas poisoning, smoke and
drowning
This mechanical respirator was per-
fected after nearly two years of expert
ments by its designers, Philip Drinker
and Louis A. Shaw of the School of
Public Health. Harvard University, and
constructed at the request of the gas
and electric companies affiliated with
the Consolidated Gas Co. Of this city.
Tank 6 Feet Long.
The appliance is heavy metal tank
equipped with various accessories. The
tank itself is feet in length and about
212 feet in width and depth, and can
accommodate the body of tall man of
large girth Its plates are electrically
The front end is removed when the
machine is required for patient SIM
ply by undoing a set OF haSps.
From the interior, drawer-like, is Slid
q bed, with steel spring mattress, upon
which the body of the sufferer is placed
after which the couch is pushed back
into the steel shell. The head of the
patient is thrust through highly elias
tic collar securely clamped to circular
nr1aT7inO in the front nanPl This collar
yields to motions of the throat and yet
fits Snugly enough to prevent the en-
trance of outside air.
The head, sticking out from the end,
Is placed upon a support bolted like a
shelf to the front and resembling the
rest of dentists or BARRIERS chair.
The end panel is then clamped or bat
tened down by the hasps, the union be-
ing made alright by gaskets or washers
of leather. The body is thus in a con-
tainer much like a compreSSed-air
chamber or diving bell.
Current Causes Exhalation.
After everything is Theoretically
sealed, air under slight pressure is al
ternately pumped in and drawn out of
the box in imitation of the act of
breathing. The incoming current bears
down on the chest and abdomen Of the
patient and causes him to exhale. When
suction is applied the patients lungs
initiate as the outside atmosphere
rushes in through his exposed nose and
mouth.
Months of experimenting were spent
In producing regular and rhythmic
strength of the patient. This Is ac-
complished by a device called an alter
nator an electrically controlled valve
one side of which is solid and the other
so meshed as to admit outside atrno-
sphere. The air Is circulated by blow
ers of the type used for vacuum clean
ers, which act as pumps.
After passing through the blowers it
comes in contact with the alternator
valve. which. opening and closing, sends
currents through two branches of Y
tube. Power is derived from COM
pact electric motor the revolutions of
which are regulated by q gear shift.
Low speed Is Is revolutions a minute
and high from % to 80 The speed
can be reduced or modified by a slide
wire rheostat.
Respiration Regulated.
In general Is breaths minute are
prescribed for adults and children over
S years of age, and from % to 25 reaspi-
rations for babies. The patient thus
can be made to breathe deeply or shall
lowly and as quickly or as slowly as the
attending physician deems best. The
machine is often tested by watching the
pulsations of a soft rubber diaphragm
substituted for the collar.
Besides watching the face of the
patient for variations in color of the
skin and lips to guide him in his treat
ment the doctor or nurse on duty can
also observe the body for symptoms by
looking through a glass-covered port
hole in the top Of the machine. AS the
glass Is of quartz composition, X-ray
photographs can be taken through 1t
for study.
A thermometer run through an air.
, tight Joint in the top of the machine