Ventilator

This article is about one type of machine used to assist breathing. For the broader article, on both positive- and negative-pressure devices, see Mechanical ventilation. For respiratory PPE worn on the face, see Respirator. For ventilation subjects, see Ventilation.
For other uses, see Ventilator (disambiguation).
Ventilator
Hamilton C6 Ventilator
SpecialtyPulmonology

A ventilator is a type of breathing apparatus, a class of medical technology that provides mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently. Ventilators may be computerized microprocessor-controlled machines, but patients can also be ventilated with a simple, hand-operated bag valve mask. Ventilators are chiefly used in intensive-care medicine, home care, and emergency medicine (as standalone units) and in anesthesiology (as a component of an anesthesia machine).

Ventilators are sometimes called "respirators", a term commonly used for them in the 1950s (particularly the "Bird respirator"). However, contemporary medical terminology uses the word "respirator" to refer to a face-mask that protects wearers against hazardous airborne substances.[1]

  1. ^ Center for Devices and Radiological Health (2019-02-08). "Personal Protective Equipment for Infection Control - Masks and N95 Respirators". FDA. Retrieved 2017-03-08.