?:definition
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Portable systems that combine the necessary equipment to provide life support and monitoring critically ill (e.g., wounded) patients during emergency care and transport from the field to health care facilities. These systems usually consist of a portable relatively light weight device (e.g., weighting less than 20 Kg/45 pounds) that include a computerized mechanical ventilator, oxygen supply (typically from oxygen concentrators), aspiration pumps that may be used for airway or wound aspiration, and a monitoring module with capabilities at least for vital signs monitoring; the system may be electrically powered from external lines or during several hours using its own batteries. The system have to work in the environmental (e.g., temperature, humidity) and mechanical (e.g., vibration) conditions of the field and even during ground and air transport; some systems may be attached to ambulance and/or portable stretchers. Emergency life support and monitoring systems are intended for use during mass-casualty disasters and to take care of wounded members of the armed forces in the field.
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