Background and Identification
AGA Medical Corporation is an American manufacturer of cardiovascular medical devices founded in 1995. AGA produces devices to treat congenital heart and peripheral vascular diseases. The company specializes in structural heart diseases, interventional radiology, and vascular surgery. AGA also produces medical ventilators including the AGA UV 705 model. The AGA UV 705 is a flexible, volume time-constant ventilator that can be used for anesthesia in both rebreathing and non-rebreathing systems, as well as for post-operative use. It is controlled electronically and driven pneumatically, guaranteeing stable ventilation for patients.
A ventilator is a machine that provides mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of a person’s lungs to deliver breaths to a patient who is breathing insufficiently or physically unable to breathe. Modern ventilators are computerized microprocessor-controlled machines that are primarily used in intensive care medicine, home care, emergency medicine, and anesthesiology. Ventilators are sometimes called “respirators,” though medical terminology uses the word “respirator” to refer to a protective face-mask.
AGA Medical Holdings Inc. was purchased by St. Jude Medical Inc. in 2010. AGA was subsumed by St. Jude’s cardiovascular unit, which produces vascular closure and heart valve products. St. Jude Medical, Inc. was acquired by Abbott Laboratories in January 2017.