Portable gas powered ventilators (PGPVs) have a wide use inside the hospital and between hospitals, providing artificial ventilation in both emergency situations and during the transport of critically ill patients.

In the operating theatre or ICU, ventilation is carried out using sophisticated, semi-fixed machines however, problems occur when the patient requires transportation from where they are being ventilated to another location. It is not feasible to move these ventilators with the patient so special portable ventilators called transport ventilators are used.

Transport ventilators must provide a level of ventilatory support comparable with electrical mains dependent machines, but must also offer the flexibility to be moved with the patient and have an endurance that is suitable for the length of the planned transport. This may be a few metres away in the same hospital, to an imaging facility such as X-ray or MRI, or a considerable distance by road or air, to a specialist unit in another hospital.

For controlled breathing of patients on the move, PGPVs provide a reliable and cost-effective solution. Continued improvements to the design whilst retaining the simplicity and reliability of operation have made the devices invaluable in all areas of clinical practice.