An iron lung is a type of negative pressure ventilator, a mechanical respirator which encloses most of a person's body and varies the air pressure in the enclosed space to stimulate breathing. [1][2] It assists breathing when muscle control is lost, or the work of breathing exceeds the person's ability. [1] .

Aug 10, 2023 · What Is an Iron Lung, and How Does It Work? In the 1920s, the development of this technology saved the lives of thousands. But what was the iron lung for, and does anyone still use it?

Mar 28, 2025 · An iron lung, the main portion of which consists of a horizontal metal cylinder, essentially acts as a mechanical respirator, wherein a bellows positioned at the foot end of the machine moves in and out to produce changes in pressure that stimulate breathing.

Aug 14, 2023 · The iron lung is a mechanical negative pressure ventilator (NPV) that polio sufferers historically relied on, which served as the forerunner of today’s sophisticated mechanical respiration devices. The iron lungs are used to aid breathing in cases where muscular control is impaired, such as in polio, botulism, or poisoning.

Jan 18, 2025 · What is the iron lung? The iron lung was a large, cylindrical unit (measuring up to six feet in length) that functioned as a respirator to help patients who couldn’t breathe on their own.

Oct 14, 2018 · The coffin-like cabinet respirator—better known as the 'iron lung'—was the state-of-the-art in life support technology in the first half of the 20th century. The first iron lung was used at Boston Children's Hospital to save the life of an eight-year-old girl with polio in 1928.

An iron lung is a large, cylindrical, mechanical ventilator that helps patients breathe by altering air pressure around their body. The device works by creating a vacuum-like environment that stimulates the natural process of inhaling and exhaling.

An iron lung, also known as a tank ventilator or Drinker tank, is a type of ventilator which encases a person's body except for the head, and changes the air pressure in the space, to help them breathe.

Nov 30, 2019 · An iron lung is a mechanical respirator which helps someone who has lost control of their breathing, due to the muscles paralyzing. Someone would use an iron lung to help them breathe on...

Aug 21, 2018 · An iron lung, known in medical terms as a negative pressure ventilator, is a piece of equipment that helps a person breathe. The machinery features pressurized cylinders which...