Blackstone Infant T-Piece Resuscitator

Newborns who do not breathe well on their own at birth are the reason delivery suites and maternity theatres keep the Blackstone infant T-piece resuscitator. Before delivery, the unit is connected to a flowing gas supply, the patient end is occluded, and the peak pressure is set on the front panel while the gauge is monitored. PEEP is then set by turning the cap on the T-piece, so both pressures are in place before the baby arrives.

At resuscitation, one person holds the infant face mask over the baby's nose and mouth and gives each inflation by covering the cap with a fingertip. Every inflation stops at the set peak, and PEEP holds the lungs partly open between breaths. The gauge lets the team see each pressure as it happens, and the fingertip sets the inflation rhythm, not a machine.

Neonatal intensive and special care units keep the unit for babies who need support after birth or on the unit, and emergency departments keep it for unexpected births. Its carry handle lets staff take it to a bedspace, a theatre or a delivery room, as long as a gas supply and flowmeter are there to drive it.

The oxygen concentration comes from the supply, so units that want a concentration between air and oxygen run the T-piece from a blended source. Because the unit runs on gas flow alone, it has no battery to charge and no power cable to route.

A setting without a gas supply and a baby who needs longer-term ventilation calls for other equipment.

Pressures set before the first breath

Peak pressure and PEEP are both fixed before the baby arrives.

Every inflation stops at the set peak

However long the cap stays covered, pressure rises no higher than the panel setting.

PEEP between breaths

The adjustable cap holds pressure in the lungs between inflations.

Each pressure on view

A colour-banded gauge shows airway pressure as it rises and falls.

Breath timing in the user's hand

A fingertip on the cap sets the rate and length of each inflation.

Nothing to charge

Gas flow drives the unit, so there is no battery or mains supply to manage.

Air, oxygen or a blend

The single gas inlet takes air, oxygen or blended gas from a flowmeter.

A handle for moving it

A carry handle lets one person take the unit wherever a gas supply is available.

T-piece delivery

Breaths are given by covering the opening in the T-piece cap.

Adjustable PEEP cap

Turning the cap narrows or widens its opening to set end-expiratory pressure.

Peak pressure control

The front panel sets the highest pressure of each breath.

Pressure gauge

A round, colour-banded gauge sits at the top of the panel.

Continuous gas flow

Gas runs through the circuit between breaths as well as during them.

Gas inlet

Supply tubing connects below the front panel.

Gas outlet

The breathing circuit connects beside the inlet.

Corrugated breathing circuit

Flexible tubing carries the gas from the outlet to the T-piece.

Face mask connection

An infant face mask attaches at the T-piece.

Single gas input

Oxygen concentration is set before the gas reaches the unit.

Pneumatic operation

No mains power or battery is involved.

Carry handle

A handle spans the top of the housing.

Stand-alone housing

The gauge, controls, and connections share one housing.

The Blackstone infant T-piece resuscitator fits delivery rooms, maternity theatres, and neonatal units with a gas supply at hand that want every inflation to stop at a pressure chosen in advance. Its case is the mechanism: the peak is set at the panel, PEEP at the cap, and a fingertip decides when each breath starts and ends, with the gauge showing every pressure. The three limits that matter most are: No CE or UKCA position is evidenced for this product. It works only while gas flows through it, so it depends on a supply and flowmeter. It has no blender of its own, so the oxygen concentration is the one delivered to its inlet.