Tourniquet advancements, combat gauze, and even shellfish derived products have been developed over the years to combat blood loss in battlefield trauma victims. Every year we read about the next big step. Some are successful and others fail miserably – either due to cost or ineffective longterm results.
One new blood clotting technology that will change the game forever is VetiGel. That is, if it holds to its claims. Invented my a 17-year-old, yes 17-year-old, who is now 22 and the CEO of Suneris – the biotech company that manufactures the algae-based polymer. According to Suneris, their blood clotting gel technology in a syringe can stop not only minor venous bleeding, but severe arterial bleeding as well. They don’t stop there. Along with rapid clotting, their algae-based polymer also accelerates hemostasis. No other clotting product on the market can come close to those claims.
As of now, the gel is just now available for trial with veterinarians, but if it’s as good as stated, it should be in the hands of military personnel and EMS crews the world-wide. I haven’t been able to find an estimate for FDA approval, but hopefully they can get their act together and help save some lives. Whether Suneris’ technology comes to fruition, it surely is a stepping-stone for future medical advancements.
From Suneris:
When our gel technology is used, three aspects of hemostasis are enhanced to quickly and effectively stop bleeding. Immediately after application, our gel stimulates the clotting process by physically holding pressure in the damaged blood vessel. The gel then rapidly activates the accumulation of platelets, which bind to the site of the injury to create a platelet mesh. Our gel completes hemostasis by accelerating the binding of the clotting protein, fibrin, to the platelet mesh, resulting in blood coagulation and a stable clot.
Through initiating and amplifying the body’s natural clotting mechanism, our gel is able to quickly form a strong clot and stop bleeding, even in severe wounds.
ACCELERATES HEMOSTASIS
The Suneris gel technology is designed to accelerate hemostasis through physiomechanical methods. Because our gel is naturally adhesive, it is able to remain at the site of the injury without manual pressure, allowing the components of the gel to interact with damaged cells to initiate hemostasis. Our gel contains plant-derived polymers that mimic the cellular support system to effectively expedite the clotting process in a variety of connective and soft tissue injuries.
FORMS DURABLE BARRIER
Suneris has engineered a polymerizing agent to enhance the durability of our gel technology. After applying the gel and ensuring that hemostasis is achieved, the polymerizing agent is sprayed onto the gel. This causes rapid restructuring of components in the gel resulting in a solid mass. Our gel is able to stop bleeding without any additional components, but solidifying the gel improves the durability of the clot, protects the wound from outside elements and allows for easy removal, if needed.
CONFORMS TO WOUND SITE
The Suneris gel technology has been effective at controlling moderate to severe blood loss from a variety of lesions. Testing suggests our gel is effective at closing wounds on the skin as well as in organs, making it ideal for use in traumatic injuries and surgical procedures, when traditional methods to control blood loss are not practical or possible.
As a paramedic and former military member, all I can say is, “Yes please!” Let us know what you think in the comments below or on Facebook.
(Images courtesy of Suneris.co)
