Respiratory products, such as a medical ventilator, are medical devices that assist patients with impaired respiratory function. There are two main types of respiratory support: controlled respiration and assisted respiration, which can be provided by mechanical ventilators. These devices blow air, often supplemented with oxygen, into the patient’s lungs and airways through a tracheal tube. Ventilators can be further classified into positive pressure and negative pressure types.
Positive pressure ventilators apply positive pressure to the air passages, increasing the patient’s airways and delivering a mixture of oxygen and other gases through a tracheal tube. These non-invasive ventilators can be used at home for chronic respiratory issues and sleep apnea. Negative pressure ventilators, on the other hand, create intermittent negative pressure outside the body to inspire the lungs to expand and draw in air. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the bloodstream and pulmonary airspaces through diffusion, without the aid of external devices.
Other types of ventilators include facemask ventilators, which use a face mask to support a patient’s breathing patterns, and mechanical ventilators, which take control of a patient’s breathing using a tube inserted through the throat. These devices are often used during surgery when the patient is unable to breathe on their own. Positive pressure mechanical ventilators may also be used by patients with chronic illness at home. Transport ventilators are specifically designed for use during transportation and provide consistent ventilation with high flow rates and 100% oxygen during inspiration. They can improve oxygenation and eliminate carbon dioxide, limit the airway passage and reduce gastric distention, and provide a consistent respiration rate and tidal volume. Tracheostomy ventilators are used by patients who have undergone a tracheostomy procedure, a surgical procedure in which a hole is made in the windpipe and a tracheostomy tube is inserted. The tube is connected to the ventilator and allows the patient to breathe through it instead of the mouth or nose.
In recent decades, medical ventilators have become essential in healthcare settings for the management of respiratory issues.
