Intelligent Trauma Intervention Algorithms for a Ruggedized Autonomous Combat Casualty Care Capability

The objective of this project is to design, develop, and demonstrate intelligent algorithms for combat casualty care embedded in a small, low cost, high-performance, open architecture computer system. In this project we focus on critical interventions in treatment of combat casualties, specifically hemorrhage control and airway management. In related work MDC is developing tools for combat casualty care (CCC), including a novel tool for semi-automated vascular access (AVAD), an automated tool for airway restoration and emergency resuscitation (EO2), and an automated tourniquet system (ATS) for managing hemorrhage from one or more limbs on one or more patients (e.g., in a mass casualty event). Developing an artificial intelligence (AI) platform to support, and eventually to automate, the use of these and related trauma care tools at various levels of CCC will have important impacts on military and civilian trauma care. The AVAD, ATS, and EO2 tools we consider in Phase 1 enable interventions to address the two leading causes of preventable combat deaths: severe (non-compressible or compressible) hemorrhage and airway obstructions. Successful AI guided interventions with these tools and others for CCC can save many lives, both military and civilian.