Forrest Bird

Dr. Forrest M. Bird (born June 9, 1921 in Stoughton, Massachusetts) is an American inventor and aeromedical scientist. He is best known for developing some of the first reliable mass-produced mechanical ventilators for acute and chronic cardiopulmonary care.

Background
Bird became a pilot at an early age due to the encouragement of his father, a World War I pilot. He performed his first solo flight at age 14; by age 16, he was working to obtain multiple major pilot certifications.

Bird enlisted with the United States Army Air Corps, and entered active duty in 1941 as a technical air training officer due to his advanced qualifications. This rank, combined with the onset of World War II, gave him the opportunity to pilot almost every aircraft in service, including early jet aircraft and helicopters.

The newest models of aircraft were capable of exceeding altitudes at which humans can breathe normally, introducing the risk of altitude sickness.

Dr. Bird currently resides near Sandpoint, Idaho which is also where his production facilities are located.

Development of the "Bird" unit
Bird created a prototype ventilator unit which was tested on seriously ill patients with limited success. Further revision resulted in the 1955 release of the "Bird Universal Medical Respirator" (sold as the Bird Mark 7 Respirator and informally called the "Bird"), a small green box that became familiar to hospital patients soon after its introduction. He subsequently made a ventilator for infants, nicknamed the "Babybird." This device was responsible for reducing the rate of breathing-related infant mortality from 70% to 10%.

Subsequent accomplishments
Bird won the Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award in 1985 and received another one in September 2005. He continues to contribute to the field of pulmonary science by participating in the development of the VDA, a ventilator that permits a patient to move from room to room. In 1995, Bird was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame; he is still working with their research teams. He was named "Inventor of the Week" by MIT in February 2001. Also, in 2007, he opened the Bird Aviation and Invention Museum in Sagle, Idaho.