Difference between Respirator and Ventilator

The main difference between a respirator and a ventilator is that the respirator is a mask to prevent the inhalation of dangerous substances, while a ventilator is a medical device that helps breathing.

Respirator vs. Ventilator

A respirator is a mask that filters harmful substances from the air before they enter the body through inhalation. On the other hand, a ventilator is a medical device that helps the circulation of air in and out of the lungs. So, a respirator is a device used to prevent the inhalation of harmful substances. On the other hand, the ventilator is used to help patients breathe.

The use of the respirator began approximately between 1785 and 1795. This word is derived from a Latin verb ‘respīrāre’ which means “to breathe, to exhale”. On the other hand, the history of the fan dates back to 1735 to 1745. This word is derived from a Latin word ventilāre meaning “to fan” and is based on Ventus, meaning “wind.”

A respirator is useful for a person who works in an atmosphere where there are germs or chemicals. On the other hand, patients who cannot get enough oxygen use a ventilator. Patients can be on a ventilator for weeks. So, a respirator has its importance in the face of a problem, that is, it prevents a person from contracting an infection or disease. On the other hand, a ventilator has its importance for patients. It helps the person to breathe artificially after an infection.

The respirator is usually made of gauze and fits over the nose and mouth. On the other hand, a ventilator is a machine that has a tube-like structure to transfer oxygen to the lungs and to remove carbon dioxide. Respirators are divided into two main types, namely Air Purifying Respirators or APRs and Supplied Air Respirators or SARs. On the other hand, there are two main types of fans i.e. positive pressure fans and negative pressure fans.

Comparison chart

What is the respirator ?

A respirator is a mask that filters harmful substances from the air before they enter the body through inhalation. The use of the respirator began approximately between 1785 and 1795. This word ‘respirator’ is derived from a Latin verb ‘respīrāre’ which means “to breathe, to breathe out”. This word is also the source of many other words such as perspire, transpire, spirit, and inspiration. A respirator is usually made of gauze and is worn over the nose and mouth.

The respirator is a type of PPE, which stands for personal protective equipment . There are many types of equipment used by doctors and scientists to avoid hazardous materials, for example gloves, goggles, gowns, etc. It is useful for a person who works in an atmosphere where there are germs or chemicals as it prevents the inhalation of harmful substances. So, doctors and scientists used respirators when dealing with bacterial and viral problems or patients, i.e. COVID-19.

Types

• Tight-Fitting Respirator: There must be a tight seal between the wearer’s face or neck and the respirator in this type of tight-fitting respirator. If there is a leak or a loose fit, contaminated air can be breathed in. Therefore, this type of respirator must be properly sealed. A fit test is required to select a fitted respirator for the wearer to confirm that the respirator facepiece fits the wearer’s face. Therefore, healthcare professionals are advised to use N95 respirators which are close-fitting respirators.
• Loose-Fitting Respirators – Loose -fitting respirators are like helmets or hoods that cover the head and neck, or loose-fitting facepieces that are made up of rubber or fabric side shields. Such respirators obtain air through airlines.
• Air-Purifying Respirators or APRs: This is a type of full-head respirator that uses a blower, filters, cartridges, or canisters to filter the air. For example, Particulate Respirators which are also known as Smoke, Dust and Mist Respirators or Masks and Powered Air Purifying Respirators i.e. PAPR etc.
• Atmosphere Supplied Respirators: This is a type of respirator that provides clean air from an uncontaminated source, for example, Supplied Air Respirators or Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), etc.

What is the fan ?

A ventilator is a medical machine that helps circulate air in and out of a patient’s lungs. The history of the fan dates back to 1735 to 1745. This word “fan” is derived from the Latin word “ventilāre”, which means “to the fan”, and is based on Ventus, meaning “wind”. It is used to help patients breathe artificially.

A ventilator is a machine that has a tube-like structure to transfer oxygen to the lungs and to remove carbon dioxide. The process of inserting this tube into a patient’s trachea or trachea is known as intubation. Any patient who cannot get enough oxygen due to illness is assisted by a ventilator.

For example, COVID-19, which is a respiratory illness, causes lung inflammation or severe pneumonia, which causes breathing problems for patients. Therefore, ventilators are used to treat some patients with the infection. The affected person may be on a ventilator for weeks.

Types

• Positive Pressure Ventilators: This is a type of ventilator in which air is forced into the lungs through the airways which increases intrapulmonary pressure. Here, the amount of air supplied is based on the amount of pressure and the timing of its application.
• Negative Pressure Ventilators: It is a type of ventilator in which air is drawn into the lungs due to the stimulating movement of the chest, that is, the pressure is applied outside the chest. Here the ventilation is organized by modifying the duration of inspiration and the amount of suction.

Key differences

1. A structure similar to a face mask that filters harmful substances from the air before they enter the body through inhalation is known as a respirator, while a medical machine that helps in the movement of air in and out of the lungs is known. of a patient. as a fan.
2. The use of the respirator began approximately between 1785 and 1795. On the other hand, the history of the respirator dates back to 1735 to 1745.
3. The word ‘respirator’ is derived from a Latin verb ‘respīrāre’ which means “to breathe, to breathe out”. Rather, the word ‘fan’ is derived from a Latin word ‘ventilāre’, meaning “to the fan”, and is based on events, i.e. “wind”.
4. The respirator is useful for a person who works in an atmosphere where there are germs or chemicals. On the other hand, the ventilator is used by patients who cannot get enough oxygen due to illness.
5. The respirator is used to prevent inhalation of harmful substances. On the other hand, the ventilator is used to help patients breathe artificially.
6. The respirator is usually made of gauze and is worn over the nose and mouth, while a respirator is a machine that has a tube-like structure to transfer oxygen to the lungs and to remove carbon dioxide.
7. The respirator has its importance in the face of a problem, that is, it prevents a person from contracting an infection or disease. On the other hand, a ventilator has its importance after infection to help patients in artificial respiration.
8. The respirator is divided into two main types i.e. Air Purifying Respirators or APRs and Supplied Air Respirators or SARs. On the other hand, there are two main types of fans i.e. positive pressure fans and negative pressure fans.

Final Thought

The discussion above summarizes that the respirator is a face mask that prevents the wearer from inhaling hazardous material by filtering the air. On the other hand, a ventilator is a medical machine that helps in artificial respiration to patients.