Ventilator

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).

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

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.

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