UChicago Medicine Helmet Ventilation Studies

In 2016, researchers from the University of Chicago Medicine led a study showing that using helmet ventilation instead of standard face masks that cover the nose and mouth helps critically ill patients breathe better and can prevent them from needing intubation with a ventilator machine. Patients with helmet ventilation also spent less time in the intensive care unit and had better survival. These helmets are now in use to treat COVID-19 patients.

View a UChicago Medicine news story about the original 2016 helmet ventilation study, with minor updates made in March 2020. 

Helmet Ventilation Tip Sheets and Assembly Instructions

Helmet Ventilation How-To Video

This video details how to use helmet ventilation in various ways, including connection to a ventilator, connection to oxygen/RA flow meter for CPAP, and connection to Respironics V60 to deliver CPAP or biLevel. This video details how to assemble the Sea-Long Medical Systems, Inc. helmet that was used in the clinical trial. The most recent model has fewer parts, but the concepts are the same.

Helmetbasedventilation.com

This website includes information focused on helmet-based ventilation, including COVID-19 related resources. This site is not maintained by UChicago Medicine.