3-in-1 respirator keeps air pure for multiple missions.

• Author: Beidel, Eric
• Position: Defense Technology Newswire - Drager's Hybrid System 7000 - Brief article

A German company has developed a respirator capable of working in both positive and negative pressure environments.

Drager's Hybrid System (DHS) 7000 uses a single mask to keep air purified for members of the military, law enforcement and emergency response teams. Users simply flip a switch to change the system from a typical gas mask to a powered air purifying respirator or a self-contained breathing apparatus.

The device allows wearers to adapt quickly to unknown hazards, be it chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear, said David Warnacut, product manager for compressed air breathing equipment. Personnel working in such operations or troops on lengthy missions now only have to carry one mask instead of three, he said.

"The DHS 700 is designed for situations...