oxygen tent, Medicine

Related Category: Medicine

oxygen tent, device used to maintain a patient in an oxygen-rich environment. The oxygen tent is composed of a clear plastic sheet suspended over the bed and tucked beneath the mattress to provide an almost airtight compartment. The oxygen supply and temperature are controlled by means of gauges. Zippers on the sides of the tent provide access to the patient. The device is particularly useful in the treatment of heart and lung disorders that limit the body's supply of oxygen and thus necessitate a higher concentration of the gas than is normally present in the air.