Check us and the rest of the Ada County clubs out at the parade downtown! Pictured here - An iron lung, also known as a tank respirator, is a mechanical ventilator that helps patients breathe by creating a negative pressure environment around the body. It was a crucial medical device, particularly during the polio epidemics, to support patients with respiratory paralysis. The machine works by rhythmically changing the air pressure within a sealed cylinder, causing the chest to expand and contract, mimicking natural breathing.