The battlefield device that takes oxygen from the air and gives it to the wounded
A new portable oxygen delivery system that's designed to improve the survival rates of both military and civilian casualties has been revealed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
Working with the Defence Medical Service, the new system, which weighs 5kg, is more flexible than traditional oxygen cylinders and can be used across the battlefield
Oxygen therapy is critical for trauma patients suffering from blood loss, head injuries and lung trauma - injuries that are frequently seen in warfare.
By getting oxygen delivery directly to the point of injury, the system can dramatically improve the likelihood of survival and recovery.
The new system does not pose a risk of explosion or require to be refilled with specialist equipment after use, unlike traditional pressurised oxygen cylinders.
It works by pulling air from the environment surrounding a patient before pushing it into a number of chambers that removes the nitrogen to allow oxygen-rich gas to be delivered.
Additionally, its rebreather element conserves exhaled breath, scrubs carbon dioxide out of it and enables it to be breathed back in.
This combination ensures that any oxygen consumed by the patient is replaced, maintaining a consistently high concentration of oxygen delivered to the patient.
Major Andrew Maggs, Dstl's military adviser, said being able to"deliver oxygen at the point of injury represents a "game-changing advance in battlefield medicine".
"By reducing logistical burden and improving safety, the system will provide critical care in situations where every second counts," he said.
It is yet to be decided on the system's first deployment, but it is currently undergoing work to create a mass-producible version tailored for military use.
In the system's current format, it costs roughly £15,000 per unit, but efforts are underway to design an even more cost-effective system.
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