Spright carry out Oregon medical drone trial

Air Methods subsidiary Spright and for-profit clinical and pathology lab Interpath Laboratory have carried out a test flight in Oregon using a Wingcopter 198 medical logistics drone.

The 24km flight, between the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center and Interpath’s main medical lab in Pendleton, Oregon, was carried out last week, and serves as a proof of concept for a lab specimen delivery service to be operated by Spright in partnership with Interpath.

The network, when completed, is expected to greatly reduce turnaround times for critical diagnostic test results for remote medical clinics such as Yellowhawk, while enabling healthcare providers to implement follow-up care in a timelier manner. In addition, the drone delivery initiative is also expected to offer a greener alternative to traditional internal combustion engine-driven vehicle deliveries.

The planned drone network follows a partnership between Spright and Wingcopter last month

The planned drone network will eventually replace the current process, in which samples are collected throughout the day ahead of an evening delivery via road vehicle.

“Medical laboratory services in rural areas frequently must invest intensive time and resources into sample pick-up,” said Tom Kennedy, President, Interpath Laboratory. “We anticipate Spright’s drone delivery service will alleviate many of the drawbacks and costs associated with automobile-based delivery. This initiative represents an example of our embrace of innovative solutions that provide more efficient and effective services to our clients.”

It follows the signing of a new US$16 million commercial agreement between Spright and German drone developer Wingcopter in January 2022. Under the agreement, Wingcopter agreed to provide Spright with a fleet of its Wingcopter 198 electric drones to provide medical delivery services across the US.