Siemens Announces Government Contract to Develop Life-Saving Combat Ultrasound Hemorrhage Device
September 29 2008 - 1:16PM
PR Newswire (US)
Deep Bleeder Acoustic Coagulation Cuff Quells Blood Loss, Saves
Lives in Combat MALVERN, Pa., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a
competitive initial development process, Siemens Healthcare
(http://www.siemens.com/healthcare) announced that Siemens 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)*, a
life-saving 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. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO ) "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. "We are very excited to
leverage advanced technologies of Siemens Ultrasound such as
real-time volumetric imaging and Silicon transducers* to realize
DARPA's vision for saving lives on the battlefield," said Richard
Chiao, VP of Siemens Healthcare's Ultrasound Innovation Group. "We
believe technologies developed for this new therapeutic application
of ultrasound will also benefit civilian care in the future." 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. "We are eager to participate
in this exciting program", noted Lawrence A. Crum, Research
Professor and Principal Investigator of the University of
Washington effort. "This unique technology offers a real
opportunity to address a major problem in battlefield trauma." "The
challenge of applying our extensive animal modeling expertise to
develop this potentially life-saving technology is exciting", noted
Matthew W. Miller, DVM, Professor of Cardiology and Associate
Director for Research at TIPS. "The opportunity to work closely
with talented colleagues at SCR and UW will ensure that the
likelihood of success is maximized." 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 US Army
Medical Research and Material Command, surgeons from the Madigan
Army Medical Center, and the US Army Institute for Surgical
Research. The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's
largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is a
renowned medical solutions provider with core competence and
innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as
well as in knowledge engineering, including information technology
and system integration. With its laboratory diagnostics
acquisitions, Siemens Healthcare is the first integrated healthcare
company, bringing together imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy,
and healthcare information technology solutions, supplemented by
consulting and support services. Siemens Healthcare delivers
solutions across the entire continuum of care - from prevention and
early detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care. Additionally,
Siemens Healthcare is the global market leader in innovative
hearing instruments. The company employs more than 49,000 people
worldwide and operates in 130 countries. In the fiscal year 2007
(Sept. 30), Siemens Healthcare reported sales of euro 9.85 billion,
orders of euro 10.27 billion, and group profit of euro 1.32
billion. Further information can be found by visiting
http://www.siemens.com/healthcare. * Not commercially available in
the United States.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Siemens Healthcare Sector
CONTACT: Tom Schaffner of Siemens Healthcare Sector,
+1-610-448-1477, or Web site: http://www.usa.siemens.com/healthcare
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