Tactical Biomedical Technologies
Abstract
(U)The Tactical Biomedical Technologies thrust will develop new approaches to deliver life-saving medical care on the battlefield, as well as novel technologies for reconstruction and rehabilitation of severely injured warfighters. Implicit in this thrust is the fact that there are unique, warfighter-specific challenges in acute and chronic treatment that are not addressed by civilian research and development. Today, more than half of American battlefield fatalities are due to hemorrhage, particularly due to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). To prevent these deaths, there is an urgent need for technologies that enable relatively unskilled personnel (battlefield medics) to diagnose and treat injuries, including the ability to locate and coagulate non-compressible deep bleeders in the thorax or abdomen. Other critical needs stem from the fact that warfighters are frequently victims of blasts, causing patterns of brain, burn, and orthopedic injuries not seen in civilian medical practice. As such, there is a unique military need to develop systems for pain control that are safe even in medically unmonitored environments, such as an active battlefield. Once lives are saved, there is an unmet need for new methods to restore function, for example, by restoring long segments of bone that were lost due to blast fragmentation. The results of this program will greatly enhance our ability to save lives on the battlefield and provide restoration of normal function to survivors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- f9727691f3c8269ad9f33a7b6cec309b