Ventilator

ventilator /ven·ti·la·tor/ (ven´ti-la-tor)

1. an apparatus for qualifying the air breathed through it.

2. a device for giving artificial respiration or aiding in pulmonary ventilation.

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cuirass ventilator  one applied only to the chest, either completely surrounding the trunk or only on the front of the chest and abdomen.

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ven·ti·la·tor (vntl-tr)

n.

See respirator.

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Ventilator

A machine that can breathe for an infant having RDS until its lungs are producing enough surfactant and are able to function normally.

Mentioned in: Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Life Support, Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Tracheotomy

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ventilator

an apparatus designed to control air that is breathed through it or to either intermittently or continuously assist or control pulmonary ventilation; called also respirator. Use of a mechanical ventilator is indicated as a supportive measure in patients suffering from respiratory paralysis and in those with ventilatory failure manifested by either alveolar hypoventilation or distributive hypoxia, or both. It is a major activity in human nursing but of almost no importance in animals except for anesthetic purposes. See bird ventilator, cambridge ventilator, flomasta ventilator, manley ventilator, minivent ventilator, north american Dräger.