Difference Between Respirator and Ventilator
Table of Contents
Main Difference
The main difference between Respirator and Ventilator is that the Respirator is a mask to avoid the inhalation of hazardous substances, whereas a Ventilator is a medical device that helps in breathing.
Respirator vs. Ventilator
A respirator is a face mask that filters the harmful substances from the air before they entered into the body through inhalation. On the other side, a ventilator is a medical device that helps in the circulation of air in and out of the lungs. So, a respirator is a device that is used to avoid the inhalation of harmful substances. On the other side, the ventilator is used to help patients in breathing.
The use of respirator was started in about 1785 to 1795. This word is derived through a Latin verb ‘respīrāre’ that stands for “to breathe, breathe out.” On the other side, the history of the ventilator dates back to 1735 to 1745. This word is derived from a Latin word ventilāre that means “to fan” and is based on Ventus, i.e., “wind.”
A respirator is useful for a person who is working in an atmosphere where there are germs or chemicals. On the flip side, a ventilator is used by the patients who cannot get enough oxygen. The patients may be for weeks on a ventilator. So, a respirator has its importance before a problem, i.e., it prevents a person from infection or disease. On the other side, a ventilator has its importance for patients. It helps the person in artificial breathing after infection.
The respirator is usually made up of gauze and is worn over the nose and mouth. On the other hand, a ventilator is a machine that has a tube-like structure to transfer oxygen into the lungs and for the removal of carbon dioxide. Respirators are 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 ventilator, i.e., positive pressure ventilators and negative-pressure ventilators.
Comparison Chart
| Respirator | Ventilator |
| A face mask-like structure that filters the harmful substances from the air before they entered into the body through inhalation is known as a respirator. | A medical machine that helps in the movement of air in and out of the lungs of a patient is known as the ventilator. |
| History | |
| Its use was started in about 1785 to 1795. | Its history dates back to 1735 to 1745. |
| Etymology | |
| The word ‘respirator’ is derived through a Latin verb ‘respīrāre’ that stands for “to breathe, breathe out.” | The word ‘ventilator’ is derived from a Latin word ‘ventilāre,’ which means “to the fan,” and is based on Ventus, i.e., “wind.” |
| Used By | |
| It is useful for a person who is working in an atmosphere where there are germs or chemicals. | It is used by patients who cannot get enough oxygen due to any disease. |
| Used For | |
| It is used to avoid the inhalation of harmful substances. | It is used to help patients in breathing artificially. |
| Structure | |
| It is usually made up of gauze and is worn over the nose and mouth. | It is a machine that has a tube-like structure to transfer oxygen into the lungs and for the removal of carbon dioxide. |
| Timing of Use | |
| It has its importance before a problem, i.e., it prevents a person from infection or disease. | A ventilator has its importance after infection to help the patients in artificial breathing. |
| Types | |
| It is divided into many types, but the two main types are Air-purifying respirators or APRs and Supplied-air respirators or SARs. | There are two main types of ventilator, i.e., positive pressure ventilators and negative-pressure ventilators. |
What is the Respirator?
A respirator is a face mask that filters the harmful substances from the air before they entered into the body through inhalation. The use of respirator was started in about 1785 to 1795. This word ‘respirator’ is derived through a Latin verb ‘respīrāre’ that stands for “to breathe, breathe out.” This word is also a source of many other words like transpire, perspire, spirit, and inspiration. A respirator is usually made up of gauze and is worn over the nose and mouth.
The respirator is a type of PPE, which means personal protective equipment. There are many such types of equipment that are used by doctors and scientists to avoid hazardous material, for example, gloves, goggles, and gowns, etc. It is useful for a person who is working in an atmosphere where there are germs or chemicals as it avoids the inhalation of harmful substances. So, doctors and scientists used respirators while dealing with bacterial and viral problems or patients, i.e., COVID-19.
Types
- Tight-Fitting Respirator: There should be a tight seal between the face or neck of the user and the respirator in such type of tight-fitting respirator. If there is a leakage or loose-fitting, the contaminated air can be breathed in. So, this type of respirator should be properly sealed. Fit testing is required to select a tight-fitting respirator for the user to confirm that the facepiece of the respirator fits the face of the user. So, the health professionals are recommended to use N95 respirators that are tight-fitting respirators.
- Loose-Fitting Respirators: The loose-fitting respirators are just 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 get air through airlines.
- Air-Purifying Respirators or APRs: It is a type of respirator that covers the full head and uses a blower, filters, cartridges, or canisters to filter air. For example, particulate respirators that are also known as fume, dust, and mist respirators or masks and powered air-purifying respirators, i.e., PAPRs, etc.
- Atmosphere-Supplying Respirators: It is a type of respirator that provides clean air from an uncontaminated source—for example, airline supplied-air respirators or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), etc.
What is Ventilator?
A ventilator is a medical machine that helps in the circulation of air in and out of the lungs of a patient. The history of the ventilator dates back to 1735 to 1745. This word ‘ventilator’ is derived from a Latin word ‘ventilāre,’ which means “to the fan,” and is based on Ventus, i.e., “wind.” It is used to help patients in breathing artificially.
A ventilator is a machine that has a tube-like structure to transfer oxygen into the lungs and for the removal of carbon dioxide. The process of insertion of this tube into the trachea or windpipe of a patient is known as intubation. Any patient who cannot get enough oxygen due to any disease is supported by a ventilator.
For example, COVID-19, which is a respiratory disease, causes lung inflammation or severe pneumonia, which causes a problem in breathing for patients. So, ventilators are used to treat some patients with the infection. The affected person may be for weeks on a ventilator.
Types
- Positive Pressure Ventilators: It is a type of ventilator in which air is forced into the lungs through airways that increases intrapulmonary pressure. Here the amount of delivered air is based upon the amount of pressure and the timing of its application.
- Negative Pressure Ventilators: It is a type of ventilator in which air is sucked into the lungs due to the stimulating movement of the chest, i.e., the pressure is applied outside the chest. Here the ventilation is organized by altering the length of inspiration and the amount of suction.
Key Differences
Conclusion
The above discussion summarizes that the respirator is a face mask that prevents the user from the inhalation of hazardous material by filtering the air. On the other side, a ventilator is a medical machine that helps in artificial breathing to the patients.
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