It was a delight to see a Bird Mark 7 on tonight’s episode of Severance: S02E08: Sweet Vitriol.
It’s been a long time since I practiced as a respiratory therapist professionally, but I shouted out “BIRD MARK 7” when we saw it show up in that dingy little room.
That translucent plastic body and the front dials and pressure gauge (negative 40 torr on one side, positive on the other).
I love an excuse to draw a ventilator, and so I did.
Those machines are driven by compressed air. They were tough machines. I think of them still as like little tanks.
We were taught that they could be used as ventilators–for life support purposes, but they were not really good enough in the 1990s compared to other options.
When I was practicing in the 1990s they were used as IPPB (intermittent positive pressure breathing) treatments, to encourage and assist people with medication and pressure to help “open up” their lungs, often with a second bronchodilator (anti-asthma) medication.
Kudos to whatever technical consultant dragged that Bird 7 into the Severance Universe. It’s an arcane machine invented in the 1950s and fits in very well with the weird-tech of that ‘verse.
The Bird was invented by the charmingly named Forrest Bird. He invented it in the 1950s, I was still using it in multiple hospitals in the 1990s. And it’s salient enough to get used another 30 years later on tv.
Long live the Bird 7!
eight comments...
I’m still on episode 3 because im waiting on other people
huh. Well, my post doesn’t spoil anything except for the appearance of a device. Enjoy Severance, it’s quite something.
It’s more about the context when it comes to this show. It certainly helps with rewatching.
I’ve not seen the show so no spoilers please 🙂 but this is a cool drawing. Do you draw it on an iPad? Presumably not on your Chumby… what software do you use?
Procreate on iPad with an Apple Pencil. Post contains no spoilers.
I decided I’d watch the show when it’s over and then I can really just enjoy it.
Procreate I’ve heard of. Never used it. I had an Apple Pencil (second hand, battery died fairly quick, replacement was basically full price) but I’m hoping to get another for more accessibility stuff.