Lightweight, Compact System for Generating Lactated Ringer's Solution

Currently, deployed medics are required to transport, maintain and be resupplied with liquid-based medications and materials that are heavy, expensive to transport, perishable and may require refrigeration.Many medications and materials are or will be available in concentrated or dehydrated formularies that require sterile water for injection (SWFI) to rehydrate for immediate use, such as Lactated Ringers (LR) solution.It would be far better to be able to use locally available water to reconstitute concentrated LR solutions, but no hand-held, portable technology exists that will allow medics on the battlefield to generate LR solution.The main focus in Phase I will be to investigate different commercial materials to determine their water production rates and product quality. Our first task is to identify suitable materials and analyze the LR products to make sure that they meet USP standards. We will then design and test and deliver a prototype and associated laboratory test results to DHA.We will also do an engineering analysis to estimate the weight, volume and cost of the units. In Phase II, we will design, fabricate and scale-up production for delivery of a minimum of ten (10) preproduction prototypes for joint military utility assessment and independent lab verification.