VICIS ZERO1 Helmet Ranks First in NFL/NFLPA 2017 Helmet Laboratory Performance Testing

SEATTLE, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- VICIS, Inc. today announced its ZERO1^® football helmet performed better than all other helmets in the 2017 NFL/NFLPA Helmet Laboratory Performance Testing. The ZERO1's top ranking is the result of extensive testing by an expert committee of independent biomechanical experts appointed by the National Football League (NFL) and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) to determine which helmets best reduce overall head impact severity.

Since 2015, the NFL and NFLPA have collaborated with these independent experts on an annual report that assesses the performance of helmets worn by NFL athletes, empowering players to make more informed decisions about their protective equipment. Laboratory tests are designed to represent head impacts in the NFL and are focused on the ability of these helmets to reduce the severity of those impacts. The 2017 evaluation featured 33 different helmets divided into two groups, including popular models from Riddell, Schutt, and Xenith, with the ZERO1 amassing the best overall score.

"The ZERO1's top ranking in the NFL/NFLPA Helmet Laboratory Performance Testing is the culmination of three years of development driven by our outstanding team of neurosurgeons and engineers," said Dave Marver, VICIS CEO and co-founder. "This was a rigorous evaluation that serves as important validation for the ZERO1 as we prepare for the 2017 NFL season."

The ZERO1 is designed to reduce impact forces and mitigate collisions from multiple directions. The helmet's multilayered structure is built to provide improved impact absorption and a comfortable, anatomically optimized fit. Unlike current helmets on the market that are limited by hard exterior shells, the outer shell of the ZERO1 yields upon impact like a car bumper. During a collision, the LODE Shell^® gives way, then rapidly returns to form before the next impact. The ZERO1's unique columnar layer is designed to absorb impacts from any direction, allowing it to slow forces from straightforward collisions or glancing blows, and has been specifically tuned to optimally respond to impact velocities observed in elite levels of football.

Players on more than 25 NFL teams are expected to wear the ZERO1 helmet during organized team activities (OTA) in advance of the 2017 season.

"VICIS is bringing a significant innovation to football as they launch their new helmet, the ZERO1," said Hall of Fame wide receiver, Jerry Rice. "The safety of the game we all love is most important, and I am excited to be part of a team improving football equipment. I look forward to seeing NFL players wearing the ZERO1 on the field this season."

For additional information about VICIS and the ZERO1, visit www.vicis.co.

ABOUT VICIS

Headquartered in Seattle, VICIS is a sports technology company focused on developing a highly engineered football helmet to improve protection and performance. VICIS' flagship helmet, the ZERO1, was shaped by some of the world's leading athletes, engineers, and neurosurgeons, and ranked first in the 2017 NFL/NFLPA Helmet Laboratory Performance Testing. VICIS is funded by several prominent spine and neurological surgeons, current and former NFL players, the Peregrine Group, W Fund, Alliance of Angels, angelMD, and Trilogy Equity Partners. For more information, please visit www.vicis.co/.

SOURCE VICIS, Inc.

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