Antiseptic, Warming, and Pressure Relieving Casualty Transport Pad

Prevention of pressure induced skin and soft tissue injuries (PSSTI) and hypothermia is important to optimize patient outcomes in prolonged field care environments. Skin interface pressure, moisture, and temperature contribute to PSSTI at bony prominences including the occiput and sacrum. Fielded collapsible litters have high skin interface pressures and these critical locations and current litter pads contribute to moisture and temperature build-up further increasing the likelihood of PSSTI. InnoVital Systems proposes to develop a litter pad that collapses with fielded litters and mitigates skin interface pressure, provides ventilation to reduce moisture and temperature buildup at critical locations, and provides drainage paths. The litter pad will leverage prior work in the development of casualty transport pad shown to be superior to a bare Talon litter and to an existing heavier and unpackable litter pad used in aeromedical evacuation. A detachable heat retention blanket that integrates with the proposed litter pad provides a mechanism to mitigate hypothermia in cold weather operations.