AUSTIN, Texas, April 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AIR BOOST, a newly-created non-profit company based in Austin, TX, today announced it has begun large-scale production of Austin P51 emergency hospital ventilators. The sophisticated, yet simple-to-use programable ventilators are a life-saving stop-gap solution to the potential widespread shortage of hospital ventilators resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Austin P51 is a low-cost, high-quality ventilator that includes many of the key features of current ICU-grade ventilators but can be quickly produced and delivered.

AIR BOOST contracted SISU, a robotics engineering firm in Austin Texas, to design and build the Austin P51 in close collaboration with Mt. Sinai Hospitals and National Instruments. The governing officers of AIR BOOST are a small group of uniquely qualified experts including a prominent robotics engineer, a recognized disaster response expert, a successful business start-up entrepreneur, and a well-known finance professional. AIR BOOST considers this project a charitable endeavor and a patriotic duty. They do not profit from, nor do they draw a salary for their work on the Austin P51 ventilator. Additionally, their supply chain vendors are providing component parts at reduced rates.

The Austin P51 ventilator is the result of a "moonshot" idea conceived by two of AIR BOOST's governing officers just one month ago on March 15th, 2020. By working around the clock, the design and prototype productions were completed by SISU a mere 16 days later on March 31st, 2020. Testing and refinement began immediately and, now, just one month after the initial concept, ventilators are rolling off the production line. The Austin P51 derives its name from the WWII P-51 Mustang pursuit/fighter airplane that was designed and produced in just 102 days, and was key in establishing Allied air superiority. AIR BOOST has already produced hundreds of units and is ready to build thousands more to satisfy urgent demand in COVID-19 hot spots. The Austin P51 ventilator is described in more detail in a short video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9rRlLhx7lw&t=.

Funding for the Austin P51 design and prototype productions have, thus far, come from private donations. AIR BOOST is now seeking additional funding in order to obtain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and to buy inventory as it stands ready to produce and deliver thousands of units with an anticipated cost of $1,500 per unit. In contrast, hospital ICU ventilators typically cost $25,000-$50,000. Delivery will begin immediately following receipt of FDA EUA approval.

Interested donors and manufacturers should contact AIR BOOST at: [email protected] . The web site is: http://p51ventilators.com and the GoFundMe page can be accessed at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/air-boost-ventilators .

Contact

David A. Wilkins

cell: (719) 650-4833

[email protected]

SOURCE AIR BOOST