J. H. Emerson Company

J. H. Emerson Company was a pioneering medical device manufacturer specializing in respiratory care and life-support equipment. Founded in 1928 by John Haven Emerson, the company is most famous for developing and improving the "iron lung" ventilator used during the polio epidemic. Its product portfolio later expanded to include the CoughAssist mechanical in-exsufflator, which helps patients with neuromuscular diseases clear secretions. The company was a leader in non-invasive ventilation and hyperbaric technology for decades. In 2007, the company was acquired by Philips Respironics, integrating its specialized respiratory technologies into a larger global healthcare portfolio.