Closing the Loop on Critical Care Life Support for Military En Route Care Environments+

The Future Force (FF) war-fighting concept includes maintenance of medical functionality as close to the action as possible for 72 hrs without re-supply and possibly without air evacuation assets. The most challenging casualty for the Forward Surgical Team (FST) is the critically injured soldier requiring immediate life-saving surgery and transport while on life support equipment. The FF battlefield envisions long evacuation distances, exceeding the 2 hr., flight capabilities of the current UH60 Blackhawk used for MEDEVAC. This situation requires greater holding capability at the FST and enhanced en route care capabilities in both ground and air evacuation vehicles with 10 to 12 hour transport times. The Automated Critical Care Life Support (ACCLS) capability under development within the US Army's Medical Research and Materiel Command, will provide automation of life support functions, through the development of computer-driven closed loop control of ventilation, fluid, drug and oxygen administration. This closed loop approach to life support will not only optimize the patient’s life support but will result in significant conservation of IV fluid and oxygen resuscitation resources.