InteliSpark client Adhesys Medical, Inc. has won a $1,329,609 contract with the United States Special Operations Command for the project, “Novel Medical Adhesive and Applicator for Field Use”.
Adhesys Medical proposes the continued research and development of MARglue, a polyurethane-based adhesive, designed to save lives in the operating room and on the battlefield. In its intended use, it will allow casualties to survive until they reach a Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) by controlling hemorrhage.
There are two pieces of technology that are integral to the final product: the adhesive properties and the applicator device. Through this work we will expand our knowledge on the properties of our already developed adhesive in order to optimize it’s use in medical emergencies to save lives. We will also work with military personnel to develop a field-ready, easy to use applicator suitable for treatment of traumatic wound on the battlefield. Through the continued research and development of this technology Adhesys Medical seeks to improve the survival rates for casualties during their transition from the battlefield to an MTF.
Major blood loss with hemorrhagic shock is one of the leading causes of fatalities in military operations. Of the potentially survivable deaths sustained during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring recorded between 2001 and 2011, 91% were associated with hemorrhage. Because most battlefield casualties die of their injuries before reaching an MTF, there is a great need for new technologies that mitigate hemorrhage. Furthermore, there were 1,645 battery-injury major limb amputations between Oct. 7, 2001 and June 1, 2015 in U.S. operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Many of these amputations may have been prevented with improved proximal hemorrhage control.
MARglue is an excellent first-aid-device for military emergencies. This adhesive will stop bleeding within 60 seconds, working independent of the body’s own clotting mechanism, through the use of quickly assembled and easy to use applicator. MARglue can be applied directly into wound cavities, and as the cavity is filled, the glue closes injured vessels and attaches to the surrounding tissue. For traumas resulting into limb bleeding, MARglue can be applied directly on the area. Due to its high viscosity, it is not easily washed away by excess blood. Deep wounds, like those resulting from a bullet, can be treated by applying the adhesive directly into the point of entry, filling the cavity with adhesive. Finally, topical wounds can be closed by applying the adhesive on the wound while compressing the wound edges. In any application, MARglue forms a strong yet flexible barrier that is non-toxic, biocompatible and has shown first biodegradation after 90 days. Yet, the adhesive is easily removed in a surgical environment. MARglue has a proven shelf life exceeding 9 months in a wide range of temperatures and environments. This technology will allow for a soldier-compatible medical device that will lead to an increase in soldier survival and decrease amputation rates by providing wound closure between the battlefield and an MTF. MARglue will also enable medics and soldiers to carry less gear while increasing treatment safety and effectiveness.