Universal Microfluidic Device Platform to Enable Real-Time Continuous Measurement of Biomarkers of Coagulopathy Directly in Trauma Victims

Traumatic hemorrhage is the primary mechanism of death in potentially survivable combat injuries, and is the leading cause of death for civilians under the age of 44. Trauma-induced coagulopathy develops quickly, resulting in a hypocoagulable state with increased bleeding, and a 4-fold increase in mortality. The protocolized but blind provision of large volumes of blood products, while beneficial in aggregrate, can often exacerbate coagulopathy and worsen outcomes. Many warfighters die because the specific coagulopathies are not rapidly diagnosed, and since 30% of victims of uncontrolled hemorrhage die within the first hour, caregivers cannot supply targeted therapy quickly enough to effect outcome. This project aims to create a device that measures protein biomarkers of coagulopathy, directly in blood, continuously, in real-time. The device is disposable, portable, requires no sample preparation and is universal capable of measuring a broad range of proteins and drugs. The work is predicted on our recent breakthrough real-time monitoring technology, published in Science Translational Medicine. If successful, this work could revolutionize the treatment of trauma-induced coagulopathy because it would enable caregivers to rapidly diagnose specific coagulopathy as it unfolds, and apply appropriate targeted treatment in time to save lives in the field and in hospital settings.