Respirator

A medical ventilator, commonly referred to as a respirator, is used to circulate breathable air into and out of the lungs when a patient is unable to do so on their own. They are commonly used in emergency rooms, intensive care units and operating rooms.
Respirators are one of the most commonly used pieces of major medical equipment, and most people in industrialized countries are aware of at least one friend of family member whose breathing had to be supported by one at some point in their life. They are necessary for many patients under the influence of a general anesthetic.
The first ventilators were developed in the late 1940s to replace the iron lung, a heavy piece of equipment which required the patient to be placed inside. At the time, they were commonly used with polio patients, who required breathing assistance when the disease paralysed their diaphragm and other muscles used for breathing. Because ventilators could be made more portable, they allowed patients with such problems greatly increased mobility.
Modern ventilators can be programmed to respond to the patient's vital signs, increasing respiration when blood oxygenation drops for example.
Category:Medical Equipment