Wearable Device Could Control Blood Loss

While neural stimulation technologies have been around for some time now, it seems the technology is just finally beginning to mature into the form of medical devices that can make a real impact on the lives of those who most desperately need them.

From offering pain relief to addressing a chronic condition, neurostimulation devices present an array of capabilities.

Slowing blood loss with neurostimulation though? That seems a bit of a stretch. But that’s exactly what Battelle — a nonprofit research and development organization — and the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research — the research branch of the North Shore-LIJ Health System — are going to attempt to achieve. Their goal is to develop a “Neural Tourniquet” and have it enter the market in the next three to five years.

The device would be created in the form of a wearable technology that would be clipped to a patient’s ear. It would stimulate the vagus nerve that would enable stimulation of the spleen. This, in turn, would stimulate the organ to begin a blood clotting response.

The researchers behind the technology have stated that the coagulation system can clot 50 percent more rapidly and reduce the amount of blood loss by 50 percent as well.

If made compact and inexpensive enough, this device could become a part of every surgical prep routine for a patient, where the device is clipped to the ear prior to the procedure. Should there be a problem that occurs, the device would be triggered. Or, in the case of a surgical procedure with expected amounts of blood loss, the device could be triggered prior to any incision being made to “prepare” the body for the expected trauma.

For emergency situations, EMTs could easily have a supply of these devices on hand. Upon arriving at the scene of a trauma, whether a shooting, car accident, or stabbing, this device would immediately be applied to the ear of the patient to enhance the body’s reaction to the blood loss. Or might a drone be deployed to the location of an accident, carrying the device for someone who is onsite to be able to apply to a bleeding victim.

For soldiers, this device could be the difference between life and death, given the fact that medical attention may not be able to reach his or her position in time to address a wound. This device, which could be put on as standard gear, would at least allow for more time for greater medical attention to get to a downed soldier. Actually, in the event of a firefight, a soldier may be able to trigger the device to activate prior to actually requiring it so that the body is already “prepped” for a potential wound.

On the pairing between the two organizations, Christopher J. Czura, Ph.D., vice president of scientific affairs at the Feinstein Institute and co-inventor of the Neural Tourniquet, said, “Our main goal at the Feinstein [Institute] is to improve the health and well-being of people through scientific discovery.” He went on to say, “We know that blood loss is a tremendous problem in a range of settings, and when we saw that our discoveries could change that, we knew we needed a partner to help bring that discovery to market. Battelle’s track record and approach make them a perfect partner.”

I’m anxious to see what comes of this collaboration to not only see if the Neural Tourniquet makes it to market, but also to see if any additional medtech ideas are “stimulated” from the pairing.