Equipment Used by Respiratory Therapists

7/13/23

What Respiratory Medical Devices Does a Respiratory Therapist Use?

Over recent years, medical technology has grown tremendously to help and aid those in the hospital. As a respiratory therapist, respiratory therapy supplies are an essential tool needed during your career in the hospital, allowing you to help both your fellow medical colleagues diagnose symptoms and help patients breathe easier. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory devices and their uses have been more important than ever before, and these medical device examples are just a few of the many important tools that respiratory therapists use in their everyday routines.

CPAP Devices
A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device helps people breathe while they are asleep by applying mild pressure to the airways. This respiratory therapy tool is used both in and out of the hospital to help those who have mild to severe breathing issues, such as individuals who suffer from sleep apnea. As a respiratory therapist, you will assist patients in learning and adjusting to a CPAP device, potentially by recording and responding to how they feel while wearing the device, along with adjusting the pressure settings and using the humidifier chamber.

Oxygen Concentrators
By filtering out nitrogen in a room, an oxygen concentrator helps to increase the amount of oxygen in a room. This respiratory therapy device is crucial for oxygen therapy and can help those who are suffering from breathing issues from minor to severe, such as asthma, the flu, or even lung cancer. An oxygen concentrator has a thin tube that runs from the device to your face, supplying you with purified oxygen through two prongs below your nostrils.

Mechanical Ventilator
A respiratory device example essential for breathing therapy techniques, a mechanical ventilator is a lifesaving device that helps you breathe, either during surgery or during a severe sickness. A mechanical ventilator helps those on life support by providing oxygen to their lungs, helps to remove carbon dioxide, and can even help to prevent parts of their lungs from collapsing. As a respiratory therapist, it is your responsibility to monitor the patient while they are on this respiratory therapy device, taking note of any significant change in their condition.

Endotracheal Tube
A tube that is placed between the vocal cords and the trachea, the endotracheal tube is a respiratory therapy tool that provides oxygen and inhaled gasses to the lungs, while protecting the lungs from contamination in the process. It can be used by patients with lung disease, chest trauma, or other airway obstructions. Intubation is also used during surgery. When a patient is under general anesthesia, an endotracheal tube is attached to a mechanical ventilator to help them breathe during the procedure.

Nasal Cannula
A respiratory device example that is used during oxygen therapy. The nasal cannula has two prongs and sits below the nose, helping to deliver oxygen through the nostrils. This can be used by a wide variety of patients with various degrees of severe illnesses, from respiratory failure or heart failure to something that can be relatively minor such as sleep apnea. This is a form of intubation that can be used on a daily basis to help guarantee a healthier and more comfortable life.
Do You Want to Learn How to Use Respiratory Therapy Medical Devices?
Saving lives requires in-depth knowledge of a variety of different respiratory therapy supplies, but it starts with an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Respiratory Therapy from Saint Augustine College. A standout, rigorous program with intensive clinical segments to guarantee you are prepared for an in-demand career as a respiratory therapist. By gaining cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills you make sure you exceed patient expectations and are on the track towards your career.