September 29, 2008 – Siemens Healthcare has entered into an exclusive government contract today with the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a prototype Deep Bleeder Acoustic Coagulation cuff (DBAC), an ultrasound device limiting blood loss and shock resulting from combat limb injuries.
Partners at the University of Washington’s Center for Industrial and Medical Ultrasound (UW), the Texas A&M University’s Institute for Preclinical Studies (TIPS) and Siemens Corporate Research (SCR) will work together with Siemens Healthcare to achieve DARPA’s goal of producing a prototype in 18 months.
“We are very pleased that DARPA has recognized the expertise of the Siemens team to deliver on this ambitious vision”, notes Dr. Frank Sauer, Department Head of Imaging and Visualization at SCR. “The development of this groundbreaking ultrasound technology will allow military personnel to begin treating blood loss injuries right at the front lines, potentially saving lives.”
The cuff is designed to limit blood loss from penetrating wounds to limbs in fast and slow bleeders, significantly reducing the risk of limb loss and death resulting from irreversible hemorrhagic shock. Once applied to the limb, Siemens Silicon Ultrasound technology within the cuff automatically detects the location and severity of the bleeding within the limb. This triggers therapeutic ultrasound elements within the cuff to emit and focus high-power energy toward the bleeding sites, speeding coagulation and halting bleeding at the injury site. The device is intended for use by minimally-trained operators, curtailing bleeding in a minimal amount of time with automatic treatment and power shut-off.
Aside from its use of advanced medical technologies, the cuff’s use in the field requires a compact, lightweight design with highly integrated electronics. Built with versatility in mind, the cuff is capable of accommodating a variety of limbs ranging from the wide male thigh to the slender female arm.
The team will be working in collaboration with future users of the technology to maximize its potential, including the Combat Casualty Care Group at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command, surgeons from the Madigan Army Medical Center and the U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research.
Further more information: http://www.siemens.com/healthcare
