Many conditions and diseases can be managed successfully at home, giving
the patient a chance to maintain as
normal and productive a life as possible.

Many different conditions and diseases can give rise to the need for ventilation assistance. 
   
The patients requiring breathing assistance range from infants to the elderly, and as a result, ventilation technology has developed to provide the widest range of therapeutic options for the patient.

Respiratory failure and respiratory insufficiency may have any one of a range of causes: 

• Impairment of the respiratory muscles, as in muscular dystrophy
• Paralysis of the breathing muscles as a result of spinal cord injury
• Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome seen in infants
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as bronchitis and emphysema

Ventilation technology covers a broad range of applications, from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment at home, to total life support ventilation in a critical care environment.

Ventilation may be delivered non-invasively via a nasal mask, or invasively via a tracheostomy.