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TED-Ed

How do ventilators work? - Alex Gendler

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7,770 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

In the 16th century, physician Andreas Vesalius described how a suffocating animal could be kept alive by inserting a tube into its trachea and blowing air to inflate its lungs. Today, Vesalius’s treatise is recognized as the first description of mechanical ventilation— a crucial practice in modern medicine. So how do our modern ventilators work? Alex Gendler explains the life-saving technology.

Watch the video and finish the Think section to complete the lesson.


About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

Educator
Alex Gendler
Director
Igor Coric
Narrator
Addison Anderson
Storyboard Artist
Igor Coric
Animator
Igor Coric
Art Director
Igor Coric
Compositor
Igor Coric
Sound Designer
Cem Misirlioglu
Director of Production
Gerta Xhelo
Editorial Producer
Alex Rosenthal, Dan Kwartler
Producer
Bethany Cutmore-Scott
Fact-Checker
Eden Girma
Science Consultant
Melvin Sanicas, David Biello
Special Thanks
Natalie Coleman

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