A portable oxygen delivery system has been designed to improve casualty survival rates on operations.
Weighing just five kilogrammes, the groundbreaking device offers sustainable O2 on the battlefield, overcoming limitations of the traditional pressurised cylinders, which pose logistical challenges due to their weight, risk of explosion and refill needs.
The innovative concentrator device has been developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) in collaboration with the Defence Medical Services. It works by drawing air from the environment around the patient and pushing it into a series of chambers that remove the nitrogen, allowing breathable oxygen-rich gas to be supplied to them.
Additionally, a 'rebreather' element conserves exhaled breath, scrubs the carbon dioxide out of it and enables it to be breathed back in. This ensures any oxygen consumed by the patient is replaced, maintaining a consistently high concentration.
The system can also be used for casualties who are unable to breathe themselves – all within the same weight class as a standard oxygen cylinder.
“In operational terms, this will reduce the logistical strain on supply chains while improving battlefield care,” commented DSTL Chief Executive, Paul Hollinshead. “The ability to reuse the system with external power or replaceable batteries means it offers unparalleled flexibility.”
Developed using a combination of off-the-shelf components, the medical kit is currently undergoing design work to create a mass-producible version that is tailored to rigorous military use. The first deployment is yet to be determined, but once prototypes have been completed they will be trialled on operations.
Watch this space.
