LifeMech · Machines Saving Lives

As COVID-19 rages on, overwhelmed medical teams are struggling with the lack of proper equipment to combat this global pandemic. Ventilators deliver oxygen to the lungs of critically ill coronavirus patients whose respiratory systems are under attack, but hospitals worldwide are facing alarming shortages of these vital machines.

LifeMech is a non-profit organization that is working to bring the life-saving benefits of a ventilator to more patients in need, fast. But we can’t do it without your help.

Shortly after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, a network of 180+ of the brightest minds in medicine and engineering assembled to find a solution and developed an open-source ventilator design that can be built quickly, at low cost, using commonly available components. Your contribution will help move this innovative adapted ventilator device through the necessary testing and trials for FDA approval.

Prototype in action


What is LifeMech doing?
LifeMech is addressing the global shortage of affordable ventilators with the development of its Adapted Ventilator System (A-VS) – a ventilator design that can be built quickly, at a comparatively low cost, using commonly available materials, and with commonly available manufacturing tools.

How will this help?
The volume of COVID-19 victims that require ventilators has overwhelmed global supply. LifeMech’s A-VS is open source, which means that this group of experts is developing and testing a proven design for an emergency use ventilator system that anyone can freely use to produce their own devices. This design blueprint allows the global medical community to quickly produce low-cost ventilator systems using easily accessible, already made materials and increase access to life-saving technologies where it is needed most.

What is the status of this initiative?
We are manufacturing prototypes for testing and working towards a submission for approval by the FDA under the Emergency Use Authorization for use during the COVID-19 crisis by the end of May. The viability of these designs is being tested in collaboration with the Oregon Health & Science University Medical School (OHSU), as well as other non-human clinical tests.

Where will my donation go?
Prototype builds, FDA submission, and clinical and safety tests will cost an estimated $65,000. We also need to purchase parts for creating reference units, amounting to $60,000, plus $10,000 for manufacturing (provided at cost by the manufacturer). Donated funds will go directly to covering these costs.


So far, volunteers have spent their own money buying components, supplies, and materials necessary to assemble the prototypes. In some cases, parts and components have been generously donated by companies interested in aiding our efforts. However, your donations are now desperately needed to help get LifeMech designs tested, approved, and into production.


Please help today during this challenging time in our world's history. Learn more at LifeMech .