Open Call for Innovative Defense-Related Dual-Purpose Technologies/Solutions with a Clear Air Force Stakeholder Need

Chest tubes are an important tool in the fight to save lives of critically injured warfighters on the battlefield. Penetrating chest wounds caused by gunshots or stabbings, or blunt force trauma caused by IEDs can result in a life-threatening introduction of blood and/or air to the chest cavity. This condition is known as a pneumothorax and is caused 33% of the preventable deaths in OEF and OIF. If suffering from a pneumothorax, any movement of the chest tube or accidental removal of the chest tube will imperil the lives of warfighters during treatment or evacuation. Medical providers do not currently have good options to secure a chest tube -- adhesive products that are ineffective when exposed to blood, dirt, and secretions in a combat environment, time-consuming sutures, or mechanical devices that cannot secure the tube. Securisyn Medical has created an easy, compact, and strong chest tube securement device that prevents chest tube movement and ensures continued security during the continuum of care. Our chest tube securement continues our research and device innovation to securely hold lifesaving smooth tubes.