New type of bandage for bleeding

SAM Medical Products is an innovative company that began with Sam Scheinberg who was a trauma surgeon in Vietnam. He discovered that the splints being used in the 60’s and 70’s were very inadequate and did not meet the needs of the patients or medical crews. He went on to develop many reusable splints and bandages that are currently well accepted and used worldwide.

This company is now embarking on a new endeavor called Celox. It is basically a pourable bandage made from shrimp shells. Its purpose is to stop bleeding and appears to work very well. It can be poured directly on wounds on the skin or internal battle wounds. When pressure is applied to the wound, the positively charged Celox granules chemically form a cross-link with the negatively charged red blood cells. This complex basically becomes a putty-like plug and stops the bleeding.

There are currently two high tech bandages being used in Iraq and Afghanistan, but this new compound appears to be better and safer. If it gets FDA approval, it may see its first active duty before year end.

Innovations like this continue to save lives. We appreciate this physician and his company for the continued service to our country and our soldiers.