Military Medtech: Dual-Use Innovation Saving Lives
In 2023, we wrote about Surgifield, a system designed to enable surgery anywhere. Surgifield addresses one of the biggest challenges faced by doctors in the field: finding a sterile environment in which to operate. SurgiBox, a component of Surgifield, is currently being used in the war in Ukraine under a humanitarian exception to assist soldiers on the battlefield. It could also prove useful in the ongoing war in Sudan. Read more about it [here].
SurgiBox is one of many medtech products with dual-use applications. Although primarily developed for military purposes, these technologies are increasingly being utilized in remote and resource-limited communities. They are also used in disaster zones, such as areas affected by earthquakes, as well as in other remote, austere, and unsanitary environments.
Military medtech is a critical component of medical care for soldiers on the frontlines. Soldiers in battle sustain various injuries that require specialized military medtech, which is designed to be lightweight, portable, and "soldier-proof." This is because it is often administered by non-medical personnel.
The US military's Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CTCCC) is responsible for developing guidelines for the management of wounded military personnel. Their recommendations are widely regarded as the gold standard in providing healthcare for personnel in combat.
CTCCC-recommended products include QuikClot Combat Gauze (QCG), a hemostatic agent that stops bleeding rapidly, even in severe wounds. It is lightweight and easy to use, making it ideal for battlefield conditions. The product is manufactured by Z-Medica, an industry-leading producer of hemostatic solutions. Z-Medica was recently acquired by Teleflex Inc., aiming to leverage its military connections.
There's also the Belmont® Rapid Infuser RI-2, a compact, portable, battery-powered blood and fluid warmer. The Belmont system has been used globally in war zones to help prevent hypothermia during fluid administration. Military medical bags are available to store the device, battery, disposables, AC/DC power supply, and optional vehicle charger.
Soldiers also require military-grade telemedicine kits. These advanced medical systems are designed for deployment in rugged environments where conventional medical infrastructure may not be available. They are tailored to support remote diagnosis, treatment, and communication between medical professionals and patients or field medics in military or disaster relief scenarios.
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Lumify portable ultrasound and IntelliVue patient monitors, provided by Philips Healthcare, are trusted medtech devices. These portable diagnostic tools are rugged and designed specifically for field use.
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