1914
Artificial Respiration Machine
- In Denver, Colorado a physician developed an “artificial respiration” device, which predates Drinker and Shaw’s design, however he did not file a patent.
1916
Polio Epidemic
- First wave of poliomyeltis hits North America.
- Saturday, June 17, 1916 in Brooklyn an official announcement was made of the polio epidemic.
- In that year, the United States saw more than 6000 deaths and 27000 infections.
1921
Franklin Roosevelt
- In 1921, Franklin Roosevelt contracts polio, which leaves his legs paralyzed.
1929
Phillip Drinker and Louis A. Shaw develop first negative pressure ventilator
- Members of Harvard University faculty, Dr. Phillip Drinker and Dr. Louis Agassiz develop the first negative pressure “respiration apparatus”.
- Their device could create pressures of -60 cmH2O and rates between 10 and 40 breaths per minutes. “The pressure was initiated at -18 cmH2O and the patient was asked to count out loud as pressure was adjusted until the patient could no longer speak.”
1931
John Emerson’s "Iron Lung"
- Biomedical inventor John Haven “Jack” Emerson improves negative pressure ventilator, making a version that is lighter in weight, less expensive and quieter than Drinker and Shaw’s design.
- His first unit was finished in 1931.
- Emerson would later be sued by Drinker and Shaw, but won the case.
1932
Rocking Bed
- At the estimated rate of normal respiration, patients would be tilted head to foot.
- When head was tilted down, the diaphragm would be pushed by the contents of the abdomen assisting in expiration.
- When head was tilted up, gravity caused the abdomen to descend in conjunction with the diaphragm assisting in inspiration.
1940
Polio Epidemic Continues
- Polio epidemic continues to be a concern in North America throughout the 1940’s, innovation ensued. New version of negative pressure ventilation were invented utilizing a cuirass shell or tight fitted garments.
- Polio took 2720 lives in the US and there were 42173 cases reported
1947
Dual Cuirass Respirator
- Charles Wilm developed a duel negative pressure cuirass ventilator
1948
F.T. Wallin Patent Filed
- A patent for the portable respirator using negative pressure ventilation with a garment and shell was filed in 1948 by Francis Wallin.
- Trend continued, air-tight garment, like ponchos and raincoats was used to ensure a better seal
1952
Worst Polio Outbreak in US History
- In 1952, there were 57628 cases, 21269 ended up with some form of paralysis, and 3145 people died.
- As a response and with limited availability of iron lungs and other negative pressure ventilators around the country, a magazine published blue prints for “do-it-yourselfers” on constructing a wooden negative pressure ventilator.
1958
Ventilator Innovation
- A negative pressure ventilator was developed for multiple people by Dr. James Wilson at Boston Children’s Hospital.
- Throughout 1950’s, other forms of negative cuirass ventilation were created such as the Emerson Chest Respirator and the Thompson Ventilator.
- 1958 welcomed the Pneumobelt, which used an inflatable belt that was applied around the patient waist and would inflate and deflate to assist in ventilation.
1960
Emerson Raincoat
- Like F.T. Wallins designs a case that would enclose the thorax with an airtight raincoat producing negative pressure for inhalation.
1970-1990
The Age of Positive Pressure Ventilation
- Other forms of negative pressure ventilation would be used and designed, but would later fall out of favor for the less bulky and, at the time, easier to apply, forms of positive pressure ventilation, except for select circumstances.
1993
Hayek Oscillator
- The precursor to the Hayek RTX Biphasic Cuirass Ventilator, the Hayek Oscillator was designed by Dr. Zamir Hayek in response to the negative side effects associated with PPV, particularly with children in mind.
- The Hayek Oscillator was a non-invasive high frequency chest ventilator, which controlled both phases of respiratory cycle.
1997
First home use of the Hayek Oscillator
- The Hayek Oscillator was easy to apply and operate, and used at Home in Secretion Management.
2000
Hayek RTX Biphasic Cuirass Ventilator (BCV) Introduced
- BCV is one of few ventilators in present times that offers negative pressure ventilation, biphasic cuirass ventilation and the only to provide true high-frequency chest wall oscillation
2008
Hayek RTX First use in USA
- In 2008, the Hayek RTX was used on the its first US patient in Buffalo, New York
- Dr. Joe Cronin with others from the Lung & Cystic Fibrosis Center announce the FDA has cleared for use the Hayek RTX Ventilator within weeks after Cystic Fibrosis patient Tyler Blake, 26, of Celoron, NY, became the first and only patient in the United States to receive treatment from this device at WCHOB
2009
First home use of RTX
- Patient discharged from Temple University Hospital and sent home with BCV.
