5 ms·

ventilators don't just pump air. they also monitor and control the amount of air, and beep when something is wrong. plus a bunch of other features...

c0brac0bra 7y ago
CPAPs control the amount of air by measuring backpressure AFAIK.
takk309 7y ago
Exactly, I would not like being hooked up to a machine that could overinflate my lungs without sounding any alarms.
- CydeWeys 7y ago
  Well good thing a CPAP won't do that to you then, for obvious reasons.
- tibbydudeza 7y ago
  That is why they are limited to deliver only 20cmH2O (water pressure). Even at that high setting it does not affect your lungs ... the purpose of a CPAP is keep your upper airways open i.e back of your throat ... you still need to breath on your own.
sudosysgen 7y ago
So do CPAP machines, though.
rootusrootus 7y ago
A typical modern CPAP also takes measurements, and makes limited adjustments based on what it sees. It doesn't just pump air. Not that it's as capable as a real ventilator, but it's not just a simple air pump, either.
- hangonhn 7y ago
  You also need to warm and humidify the air because ventilators are inserted past the part of your respiratory system that does that.
  - VectorLock 7y ago
    Most CPAP machines have built in humidifiers.
  - rootusrootus 7y ago
    I assume a CPAP could only ever be hacked into being some form of non-invasive ventilator, not the kind where you are intubated. But I may be 100% wrong. In any case, a standard Resmed CPAP like the one in the article has a humidifier built in, and if you buy the optional heated hose, it can heat the air too. The tank is kinda small on the humidifier, so you'd have to refill it pretty often. Probably want to hack it into having a lot more volume, if you need the humidity.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - reaperducer 7y ago
    You also need to warm and humidify the air because ventilators are inserted past the part of your respiratory system that does that. Many (most?) CPAP's do that. When you have to fill the reservoir every night you get an interesting perspective on the amount of water you breathe in eight hours.
    - rootusrootus 7y ago
      > When you have to fill the reservoir every night I accidentally found out one night that I don't need the air to be humidified. That was a revelation, and one that's saved me a lot of work since.
      - reaperducer 7y ago

c0brac0bra 7y ago

CPAPs control the amount of air by measuring backpressure AFAIK.

takk309 7y ago

Exactly, I would not like being hooked up to a machine that could overinflate my lungs without sounding any alarms.

CydeWeys 7y ago
Well good thing a CPAP won't do that to you then, for obvious reasons.
tibbydudeza 7y ago
That is why they are limited to deliver only 20cmH2O (water pressure). Even at that high setting it does not affect your lungs ... the purpose of a CPAP is keep your upper airways open i.e back of your throat ... you still need to breath on your own.

sudosysgen 7y ago

So do CPAP machines, though.

rootusrootus 7y ago

A typical modern CPAP also takes measurements, and makes limited adjustments based on what it sees. It doesn't just pump air. Not that it's as capable as a real ventilator, but it's not just a simple air pump, either.

hangonhn 7y ago
You also need to warm and humidify the air because ventilators are inserted past the part of your respiratory system that does that.
- VectorLock 7y ago
  Most CPAP machines have built in humidifiers.
- rootusrootus 7y ago
  I assume a CPAP could only ever be hacked into being some form of non-invasive ventilator, not the kind where you are intubated. But I may be 100% wrong. In any case, a standard Resmed CPAP like the one in the article has a humidifier built in, and if you buy the optional heated hose, it can heat the air too. The tank is kinda small on the humidifier, so you'd have to refill it pretty often. Probably want to hack it into having a lot more volume, if you need the humidity.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- reaperducer 7y ago
  You also need to warm and humidify the air because ventilators are inserted past the part of your respiratory system that does that. Many (most?) CPAP's do that. When you have to fill the reservoir every night you get an interesting perspective on the amount of water you breathe in eight hours.
  - rootusrootus 7y ago
    > When you have to fill the reservoir every night I accidentally found out one night that I don't need the air to be humidified. That was a revelation, and one that's saved me a lot of work since.
    - reaperducer 7y ago