The Panther 5N dedicated, high-acuity non-invasive ventilator continues to gain momentum in the industry as the ventilator of choice among respiratory therapists. We recently sat down with MED Alliance Group Clinical Specialist Dave Lockwood, RRT, who weighed in and answered some of the most common questions he is asked.

Question: I have not heard of Panther vents or the Origin company. Tell me about the company.

Answer: Origin Medical is a U.S.-based company, with its leadership having more than 60 combined years of experience in the design, manufacturing, and commercialization of mechanical ventilators with companies such as Flight Medical, Puritan Bennet/Medtronic, and CareFusion.

Question: Can you tell me about the ventilator?

Answer: The Panther 5N was designed first and foremost to be a comprehensive non-invasive ventilator to compete with the Respironics V60. We took what people liked about the V60 and added features that many customers wished it had. The P5N also includes invasive ventilation modes and is approved for use in patients without a spontaneous breathing drive. It also has High-Flow Oxygen Therapy (HFOT), providing flows up to 80 L/min.

Question: What NIV modes does it have?

Answer: It has Pressure Control with a set rate (PCV), S/T, AVAPS, Spontaneous Pressure Control (SPONT), CPAP, plus nIPPV and nCPAP in the neonatal mode option.

Question: What invasive modes does it have?

Answer: It has A/C- PC (Pressure Control), S/T Pressure Control (S/T),  A/C PRVC, and A/C- VC (Volume Control).

Question: Can it be used on infants?

Answer: Yes, NEO is an option and can be used in NIV, INV, and HFOT.

Question: If I don’t get the NEO option, what is the lowest it will go in Pediatric?

Answer: 2.95 Kg or 20 mL in a volume-targeted mode, such as AVAPS or PRVC.

Question: You said it has the features that people like about the V60. What other features does it have, like the V60?

Answer: It has the pressure-stepping feature in PC (called RAMP) and S/T; it has AVAPS and Active Standby.

Question: Does it need both O2 and air connections?

Answer: No, it only needs an oxygen connection; air is supplied by a two-stage turbine.

Question: What do you mean by a two-stage turbine?

Answer: Unlike other turbine vents with only a single stage, our turbine has two stages, ensuring the delivery of higher pressure and inspiratory flow, allowing the Panther 5N to deliver the highest peak flow of any NIV vent currently on the U.S. market. As a result, the P5N is very effective at compensating for large leaks and can use a large variety of masks.

Question: Why don’t you use a single limb circuit?

Answer: Two main reasons.

First, we use a dual-limb circuit, so if the patient is intubated, you can switch to invasive mode and ventilate them even if they are not breathing. The reason the V60 and other single-limb NIV vents’ operator manuals advise using it only on an intubated patient who is actively breathing is that some of the exhaled breath is blown back into the single limb. This CO2 is then rebreathed, which can elevate the patient’s PaCO2; an apneic patient cannot respond to rising PaCO2 by altering their breathing. With the P5N’s dual limb, that does not happen.

Second, with a single-limb circuit, the flow during exhalation averages 30 L/min or more to prevent CO2 from accumulating in the circuit. If a patient is on high O2 settings and you are transporting them on O2 tanks, most of the flow comes from the tanks. That’s why a V60 on 100% O2 burns through transport tanks.

Dave Lockwood, RRT
MED Alliance Group Clinical Specialist

Key Features:

• Active Standby
• NIV Modes: PCV and S/T (with Ramp), AVAPS, SPONT, CPAP
• Invasive Modes: A/C-PC, S/T, A/C-PRVC
• Use with a variety of circuits and masks, including vented masks
• Up to 340 LPM Max Flow
• 200 LPM Leak Compensation
• HFOT with range up to 80 LPM
• Integrated oximetry, capnography, and nebulizer (pneumatic and aerogen)
• Low cost of ownership with minimal maintenance
• 15” intuitive touchscreen with large, easy-to-read data

The Panther 5N stands apart with a rare combination of versatility and performance. It is purpose‑built first as a powerful NIV platform, yet capable of invasive ventilation, neonatal support, and high‑flow oxygen therapy up to 80 LPM. Features like its dual‑limb circuit, two‑stage turbine for exceptional leak compensation, and modes clinicians already trust make it a flexible solution across patient populations and care settings. If you’d like to learn more or see how the Panther 5N could fit into your clinical practice, we invite you to reach out for additional information or to schedule an evaluation. Our Clinical Specialists Dave Lockwood, RRT, and Robert Wackenthaler, RRT, RRT-NPS, are always available to answer questions and dive deeper into the ventilator’s functionality, ensuring you have the insight needed to make an informed decision for your team and the patients in your care.

For a demo, evaluation or more information about the Origin Medical Panther 5N from Solutions in Critical Care, contact your local MED Alliance Group sales representative, call 888-891-1200 or email us.

MED Alliance Group is a medical device distributor that has been meeting the needs of our clinical customers and manufacturing partners since 1998. We specialize in the sales, marketing, importation, logistics and distribution of innovative, high-quality and cost-effective products found in anesthesia and respiratory, blood and transfusion therapy, EMS and emergency room, interventional radiology and cath lab, iv and vascular, as well as NICU and PICU.

Please follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for MED Alliance product updates.