Respirogen's technology will provide oxygen independent from damaged lungs. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute severe lung disease commonly encountered in intensive care units (ICU). It can be caused by several triggers, including pneumonia or trauma. It is characterized by widespread injury of the alveolar–capillary membrane, resulting in protein rich noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs) and acute respiratory failure (ARF). ARDS results in severe hypoxaemia, which is refractory to oxygen treatment and requires assisted ventilation.