A new tool being developed can seal bullet wounds in mere seconds using high-tech sponges. The tool is called the "XStat Syringe." 

The tool comes in a syringe that costs US$100 each. Within these syringes are compressed sponges coated with a coagulant.

Once injected inside the body, a combination of pressure caused by their expansion and the coagulant applied throughout the wound combine to effectively stop blood flow.

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When commercialized, this new technolog may become a staple in items that people bring to firefights.

Most bullet wounds are treated with tourniquets but are mostly useful for injuries to the extremities. Gushing wounds in the pelvis or shoulder, however, need omething other than a tourniquet.

When a person suffers a gunshot injury, the current standard of care is simply stuffing gauze into the wound.

Not only is the gauze not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but it's also a painful experience and ineffective since it means medics have to repeat the process numerous times.

This is what spurred a company called RevMedx to approach this problem in a different manner. They were inspired by expanding foams used to patch tires and walls.

Seeing that foam wouldn't work, they cut up sponges instead and stuck them into wounded pigs. It was a success, and US$5 million development contract from the United States Army created a new medical device.

Ziba assisted RevMedx in designing the tool.

"We needed to deliver a tool that's easy for the medics," said Eric Park of Ziba. "We needed to understand the field kit and how he decides what to carry."

Their solution was to store the plunger of the barrel in the syringe.

With the design finalized, the company is continuing with tests on live pigs. Afterwards, they'll submit XStat Syringe to the FDA testing.

TagsXStat Syringe, Bulle wounds, RevMedx