United Kingdom Defense Seeks Innovative Treatment for Non-Compressible Hemorrhage

The Surgeon General’s Department and the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is seeking to identify existing technologies from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 and above that will allow a better understanding of the current treatment available for a non-compressible hemorrhage (NCH) and to inform future medical research and treatment for an NCH.  

Non-Compressible Hemorrhage refers to bleeding from anatomical structures that cannot be controlled, or only partially controlled, with application of external pressure, undertaken through an overlying tourniquet or direct manual pressure. An NCH is highly lethal and such bleeding is the chief cause of otherwise preventable battlefield death.

The proper use of tourniquets and enhanced hemostatic dressings has reduced preventable death from compressible (limb) hemorrhage, but new devices and techniques to improve NCH are few and have yet to be taken up within military or civilian health systems at scale.

The MOD is seeking options of treating NCH at the emergency scene that can be used by non-medical professionals in austere settings close to point of injury. In particular, the proposals should focus on a next-generation medical device technologies that can target or triage the source of hemorrhage in the pre-hospital environment.

Ideally, proposed solutions should be portable, simple to use and go well beyond the current limits of Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA), Abdominal Tourniquet, or expanding foam.

The MOD does not want technology proposals that rely heavily on components sourced from China or literature reviews, paper-based studies, consultancy, non-technical solutions or marginal improvements to existing capabilities. Technologies at TRL 2 or below are also not desirable.

U.S. companies have a worldwide reputation for innovative products, after sales service, and training which makes them competitive in the UK market and with the MOD.  The U.S. and UK also share similar business cultures and business practices, which makes the UK an attractive market for U.S. suppliers.

If you have a proposal which provides innovative treatment for a non-compressible hemorrhage, or if you would like to learn more about security and defense opportunities in the UK, please contact PJ Menner at the U.S. Embassy London via PJ.Menner@trade.gov.