About us
We created this website on 3/18/2020, at the peak of the pandemic uncertainty, to curate and share high-quality clinical and practical information for the global medical community about non-invasive ventilation (NIV) via helmet and to help healthcare professionals learn the benefits of this device for treating patients with COVID-19, a disease caused by a respiratory virus that can result in severe illness and respiratory distress in some people.
Using a helmet-based ventilator can save lives. For countries lacking enough traditional ventilators because of increased hospitalizations from severe cases of COVID-19, noninvasive ventilation (NIV) via helmet offers a viable solution.
A three-year trial study at the University of Chicago, that our founder Aurika was directly involved with, found ventilation via helmet is superior for these reasons:
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Results in faster recovery time, shortening an ICU stay
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Reduces the need to intubate
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Lowers ICU mortality
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Results in minimum or no sedation
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Provides a cost-saving (speedier recovery, less invasive treatment, and a lower-cost device)
Since then, our initiative received numerous awards and recognitions and has become a leading global depository of know-how and expertise in non-invasive helmet-based ventilation methods for patients with respiratory distress. We are in particular happy to share that in September 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) Clinical Care for Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Toolkit included helmet-based therapies, providing valuable information for clinicians who wish to use helmets to treat patients.
Our proprietary helmet-based ventilation training course is now available for free to help clinicians around the world to use helmets safely and effectively.
How YOU CAN HELP:
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ALERT relevant experts and decision-makers about this info source – SHARE a link to our web www.helmetbasedventilation.com
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SUBMIT INFO & contact/capacity/shortage/resource DATA (non-invasive ventilation related ONLY) on worldwide
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Clinicians, ICU staff, and hospital leaders
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existing manufacturers, their capacities & needs for supplies or funding to expand output
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potential pivoting manufacturers, their capacities & needs for expertise, supplies, or funding to create new capacity
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public, private, and charity funding sources for hospitals and helmet suppliers
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hospital demand
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any other relevant ideas and suggestions
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Aurika Savickaite
Aurika Savickaite, RN, MSN, was involved in the successful testing of the helmet ventilator in the ICU at the University of Chicago during a three-year trial study.
While in pursuit of a Master of Science in Nursing – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner degree at Rush University College of Nursing (2014), she wrote her capstone paper, Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) for Treatment of Acute Respiratory Failure in Immunocompromised Patient, based on her experience with ventilation via the helmet.
Savickaite has worked as a registered nurse and patient care manager at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Medical Intensive Care Unit, and as a staff nurse at Vilnius University Hospital, Santariskiu Clinic, in the intensive care unit. She earned a Bachelor of Rehabilitation and Nursing at Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine in 2001.
Aurika Savickaite has been committed to community service for many years. Currently, she is a member of the Chicagoland Lithuanians Rotary Club.
Aurika Savickaite
Advisor - Dr. John P. Kress, MD
John P. Kress, MD, specializes in all areas of pulmonary and critical care medicine. He has a particular interest in respiratory failure and shock. He also serves as director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Procedure Service, specializing in a variety of invasive medical procedures. Dr. Kress sees patients in the outpatient pulmonary medicine clinic.
Dr. Kress' research has focused on sedation for critically ill patients with respiratory failure, and early intervention in patients with respiratory failure to reduce functional decline after discharge from the ICU.
Dr. John P. Kress, MD
2016 video demonstration of how a helmet interface for noninvasive ventilation is assembled and applied to the patient
Team
David Lukauskas
David Lukauskas is an entrepreneur and a biohacker. David has been involved in marketing and advertising for businesses to reach online and in-person customers for nearly 20 years as a business owner and founder. His business savvy helped to turn a random dinner conversation into a full-fledged global initiative and reach out to clinicians, engineers, and non-invasive helmet-based ventilation device manufacturers in different countries around the world.
Additionally, he is CEO of Chicago-based Crowd Control DIRECT Inc., a business he founded in 2009, which supplies waiting line management systems and safety products across the country and abroad.
To meet the extreme energy demands of being an entrepreneur, Lukauskas practices biohacking to perform at a high level and maximize human performance.
David Lukauskas
Viktorija Trimbel
Viktorija Trimbel is a professional board member and strategic advisor with 25+ years of outstanding track record in strategy, corporate governance, finance, structuring, leading and executing highly complex M&A and investment projects & transactions, design & digitalization of business processes for local and international clients as well as the public sector.
Her current professional and research interests focus on platform/network governance, the convergence of power of the flux networks, and collective intelligence for fast and future-proof strategic decision-making.
Viktorija Trimbel has been dedicated to community service and empowerment for many years. She has been mentoring startup companies and entrepreneurs for over 15 years and was listed among Top-100 Women in Tech in Europe 2012.
Additionally, she became the first-ever woman Governor of Rotary International in Lithuania in 2020-2021 and a Member of the global Membership Growth Committee in 2020-2023. She became the Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) in 2015 and received the National Rotary Award in 2019.
Viktorija Trimbel
Awards & recognitions
Helmet-based Ventilation has become the finalist of the Global Awards 2020, organized by the WomenTech Network, in the category "Women-led Startup in Tech of the Year" as well as the Global Lithuanian Awards 2020 under the auspices of the President of Lithuania, in the category "For Global Experience Against Pandemic Challenges". The initiative was featured in many top media outlets and presented at different business conferences and medical industry podcasts. It was also featured on the main website of Rotary International, showcasing various initiatives around the world (full text available online: https://www.rotary.org/en/hacking-solution-covid-19-pandemic)
How this project started
It all began the evening of March 17, 2020, while Aurika Savickaite and her husband, David Lukauskas, sat around the kitchen table in Chicago. They, like many others throughout the country, weren’t discussing St. Patrick’s Day festivities or the weather – the topic was the COVID-19 virus.
Aurika recalled the 3-year trial study and the successful testing of the helmet-based ventilation when she worked at the ICU at the University of Chicago Hospital.
Aurika shared this was only a study -- but while helmets were currently being used in Europe to treat COVID-19 affected patients, they were not being used in the United States, where cases of COVID-19 were increasing.
The statement caught David by surprise.
“What did you just say?” he asked Aurika.
That simple question sparked an into-the-night conversation as the couple discussed the potentially deadly outcomes should there not be enough beds in intensive care units or enough ventilators for the patients hospitalized with the COVID-19 virus.
The domain HelmetBasedVentilation.com was registered that night. The next day, David was telling his sister, Viktorija Trimbel, about this project. Before David could finish his explanation, Viktorija offered her help and joined the team.
Just one day later, the website was launched, it's being updated 24/7, connecting decision-makers and publishing content for medical professionals.
Supporters
Blue Oceans PR
Communications Partner
“Blue Oceans PR” is a boutique digital PR agency with a strong focus on reaching top global media and creating a buzz.
Being truthful to the original Blue Oceans Strategy, it always looks to find unique brand communication angles while securing relevant publicity for each client. The agency specializes in B2B, Tech, Fintech, SME and complex subject matter public relations, executes national and regional brand communication and offers quality content planning and creation services employing most relevant digital solutions. For more information, visit www.blueoceanspr.com
Disclaimer
All research and clinical material published on this website is for informational purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information contained herein with other sources. Patients and consumers should review the information carefully with their professional health care provider. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by physicians. Aurika Savickaite will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising therefrom.
We share tips and ideas from those using helmets, but these may be off-label and untested ideas and should not be construed as medical advice, FDA approved modifications or proven safe or effective. Please consider these with caution.