Perfusion Technology for Vascular Composite Tissue Conservation and Maintenance

Advancements in body armor combined with better combat casualty care have greatly increased the survival rate of soldiers suffering battlefield trauma injuries. The increased survivability, however, has resulted in an increase of wounded warriors being sent home with severe injuries that ultimately reduce their quality of life post-treatment, especially amputations and damage to vascularized composite tissues. Recent research and advances in regenerative medicine offers never-before seen possibilities for new therapies and treatment of trauma injuries to vascularized composite tissues; however, many surgical and treatment outcomes are still affected by the limited amount of time avaible for organ or tissue preservation following a trauma induced injury. Surgical outcomes could be greatly improved if tissue salvage and conservation could be achieved over longer time periods. Towards these ends, TDA Research, Inc. proposes to develop a novel perfusion system for the salvage and repair of trauma injured vascularized composite tissue. This system will increase the preservation time for vascularized composite tissue, enabling advanced treatments or transplant capabilities.