Breathing apparatus

A breathing apparatus was a type of personal life support system that allowed an individual to breathe their own form of air while in an alien atmosphere.

Some Benzites were unable to breathe a standard oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere, and therefore had to wear a breathing apparatus in those environments during the early 2360s. By the early 2370s, this device had largely fallen into disuse, though at least one Benzite serving in Starfleet still employed a breathing apparatus in 2380. (TNG: "Coming of Age"; DS9: "The Ship"; LD: "wej Duj", et al.)

It has never been clearly stated in dialogue what the breathing apparatuses worn by the Benzites were truly used for or what happened to them. Mike Okuda explained the absence of the apparatus in "The Ship" by pointing out "there's been some advances in Benzite technology!" (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 372)

Mordock's respiration device was originally conceived as being "a special suit using circulating gas tubes." Mendon's device was later described as being "a special device at his chest which converts the oxygen level to his use."

In 2370, Jadzia Dax recalled the story of a hydrogen-breathing Lothra and an Oxygene who fell in love and yet could only be in the same room for forty minutes a day without their breathing apparatus, nonetheless staying together for fifty-seven years. She gave Melora Pazlar this example to convince her that a relationship with Julian Bashir wouldn't be impossible, despite the differences between them. (DS9: "Melora")

Types of breathing apparatuses[]

External link[]

Breathing apparatus at Wikipedia