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Medical respirator inventor to give public lecture May 1 at SUNY Upstate

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Forrest M. Bird, a member of the U.S. Inventors Hall of Fame for his developments in fluid dynamics and the patented BABYbird, will discuss the importance of innovation at a free, public lecture sponsored by SUNY Upstate Medical University May 1, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Weiskotten Hall Medical Alumni Auditorium, 766 Irving Ave., Syracuse. A reception will follow the lecture, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Bird, who began his career as a pilot, developed technology to assist pilots to breathe at extremely high altitudes. His aeronautical knowledge coupled with a later medical education, permitted Bird, with dual qualifications, to effectively enter into conceptual aeromedical technology.

Bird developed in-flight Aircrew Breathing Regulators and devices for pilots flying the latest state of the art military and civil Aircraft. Following his military accomplishments, he developed pneumatically served cardiopulmonary support systems.

Bird is known by most clinicians for the first universal mass produced medical respirator known as the Bird Mark 7 Respirator, which still remains in worldwide service. His BABYbird, first introduced in 1969, reduced mortality in neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndromes (IRDS) from some 70 percent to less than 10 percent within several years. During the 1980s, Bird perfected Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation (IPV) which has proven to be a major advance in mechanical cardiopulmonary care.

In 1995 Bird was inducted into the U.S. Inventors Hall of Fame for his developments in fluid dynamics and the patented BABYbird.

He is a past president of the Civil Aviation Medical Association (CAMA). He remains an active highly qualified FAA certificated flight instructor pilot and aeronautical engineer and is an ardent lecturer and educator, with research and development commitments in aeromedicine.

Bird's lecture is presented jointly by Upstate Medical University Foundation and SUNY Upstate's Department of Family Medicine as part of the Rothschild Endowed Professorship in Family Medicine.

For more information, call 315-464-4416.

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