The Iron Lung: Halfway Technology or Necessary Step?

Abstract

The iron lung is often used to epitomize the costly halfway technologies of modern-day medicine that fail to cure and only prolong a seriously compromised existence. Historical evidence indicates that the iron lung was not a costly instrument of last resort; instead, it was a lifesaving device that played a critical role in the evolution of modern respirators and respiratory care. Contrary to the prevailing views of the biomedical research community, the creation of new devices and instruments is often as important a source of technical change in medicine as are advances in the biological sciences.

Encoded Archival Description as a Halfway Technology

“…The most commonly used example to explain the concept comes from medicine's struggle to conquer poliomyelitis. 5 Polio, or infantile paralysis, attacks the nerves that control muscle movement. When the portion of the nervous system under attack controls movement of the legs, it leaves the patient disabled.…”

Máquinas e argumentos: das tecnologias de suporte da vida à definição de morte cerebral

“…Toda tecnologia deveria então chegar ao patamar deste último tipo ou seria inviável para a prática cotidiana. Tal perspectiva é fortemente criticada por Maxwell (1986), que, como contraponto, apresenta a história do desenvolvimento dos iron lungs e recupera a importância desse aparato para novas descobertas médicas. Acompanharemos um pouco dessa história e seus desdobramentos.…”

“…O aparelho, que consistia numa câmara de ar de pressão negativa com um mecanismo elétrico, mostrou-se eficaz em animais e rapidamente foi incorporado à cena hospitalar (Drinker, Shaw, 1932;Maxwell, 1986 2 Ibsen revela em suas memórias o espírito de "livre troca de idéias" em que se produzia pesquisa junto ao grupo de Beecher. Outro ponto importante em seu relato é a emergência da anestesiologia como especialidade independente da cirurgia.…”

The Intensive Care Unit: The Unfolding and Ambiguities of Survival Therapy

“…. silent, wasting no breath for speech, wide-eyed, frightened, conscious almost to the last breath" (15).…”

“…Despite these problems, shortages of the machine existed and produced another ethical dilemma, this one concerning allocation. Doctors were having to choose between giving it to patients who were more seriously ill but with a diminished chance of survival, as opposed to patients whose prognosis was better (15).…”