Glassblower uses skills to help with COVID-19 pandemic
AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — Christian Luginger is a local glassblower who lives in Amarillo.
Luginger has been transforming medical-grade glass into art for more than twenty years, but now he feels he has a calling to help those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I can't just monetarily donate, but I can use my hands and skills to give back to the VA, senior citizens, and the local hospitals about getting the right parts that fit on the ventilators," said Luginger.
Luginger is hoping to make medical-grade splitters so that if ventilators need to be used for more than one patient, that will be an option.
In extreme cases of the coronavirus, ventilators are essential because of the way that COVID-19 attacks the body, according to Pulmonologist, Dr. Victor Test, with Texas Tech Physicians.
"Areas of the lungs will leak water and white blood cells and infected fluid into the spaces of the lungs," said Test. "Those areas of the lungs don't exchange oxygen the way they are supposed to so, the ventilator helps to improve the amount of air in that part of the lung."
Ventilators aren't normally used for multiple people for a reason.
"Typically, we use one ventilator per patient, there are several reasons for that. One is it is a lot easier to control the ventilation," said Test.
But if needed, it is an option that physicians are exploring around the world during this pandemic.
"No one should have to die from the lack of ventilators or splitters, or you know the lack of them,” said Luginger.
Right now, Luginger doesn't have the go ahead to make his glass splitters, but that is an answer he will have soon.
"I will probably have some more news in the next week or so on getting that answer," said Luginger.
