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| Iron
Lung: Invented in
1929 by Philip Drinker, the "iron lung" or Drinker
Respirator was the first widely used mechanical device capable
of artificial respiration. It was used to treat victims
of respiratory paralysis, often caused by polio. The
patient’s entire body, excluding the head, was placed in the
tank. A rubber collar was fitted tightly around the neck
to avoid pressure on the windpipe and voice box and to prevent
air leakage. As pressure in the tank was increased the
patient’s chest increased, moving air into the lungs.
When tank pressure returned to normal, the lungs released air.
This process was repeated about 15 times per minute over
prolonged periods. |
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