Biodegradable Chitosan Gel Intracavitary Hemostatic Agent

Hemorrhage is the leading cause of death from battlefield trauma. Approximately 80% of hemorrhagic deaths on the battlefield are due to intracavitary hemorrhage that is not accessible to direct pressure. Noncompressible hemorrhage is also a primary cause of death in civilian trauma. Unfortunately, methods available to first responders to control hemorrhage are only useful for extremity or superficial truncal injuries and the only viable treatment for intracavitary hemorrhage is surgical intervention. Luna Innovations proposes to develop an intracavitary hemostatic agent that is a low-viscosity, neutral pH liquid at room temperature, but rapidly expands into a biocompatible, bioadhesive, biodegradable and hemostatic foaming gel upon delivery. The gelling hemostatic agent will be administered by a delivery system that will provide sufficient tamponade to control capillary/venous bleeding and surface oozing, allow interaction of the agent with injured tissues in the vicinity of pooled and/or flowing blood, and provide an ability to gauge proper positioning and real time assessment of success. The stored and transported liquid hemostatic agent and delivery system will be stable, small, lightweight, low-cost and easy to use.