US Air Force working on improved stretcher
The US Air Force School of Aeromedical Medicine (USAFSAM) are assisting with the testing and evaluation of a new aeromedical stretcher design
Scientists from the US Air Force School of Aeromedical Medicine (USAFSAM) are assisting with the testing and evaluation of a new aeromedical stretcher design that puts an emphasis on the safe transport of traumatic brain and spinal injury patients in air and ground vehicles.
Cornerstone Research Group (CRG) of Dayton, Ohio, US, first developed the stretcher, and entered into co-operative research with USAFSAM in 2013. USAFSAM supplies medevac experts and access to C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III high-bays for ongoing device compatibility and testing and evaluation.
CRG began the design of the device under an agreement with the US Army, but went on to work with the Air Force so that the design could result in a common stretcher platform between the services, thus eliminating the need to transfer a patient from an Army stretcher designed for ground transport to an Air Force stretcher designed to interface with airborne medical systems.
One of the major changes is that the stretcher is rigid; the current standard stretcher can bend more than six inches (15 cm) in certain conditions. The stretcher also has a specialised mattress pad to eliminate bed sores. The new foot replacement can also absorb shock and vibration while in transit. The new design still meets the NATO design standards for loading, altitude and vibration.
“Our goal is to exceed safety requirements for use and safety. Feedback from users and access to the military vehicles for testing has been hugely beneficial,” said Kristin Cable, team leader with CRG.
“Having adequate spinal immobilisation is very critical when transporting patients with these types of injuries. Our wounded warfighters experience a much rougher ride back to definitive care than we experience stateside,” said Dr David Burch, a biomedical engineer with the 711th Human Performance Wing. “Military medical transport relies on vehicles of opportunity, which were never designed to provide a smooth ride. There is a lot of vibration and perturbation from turbulence or terrain gets transmitted to the patient, making adequate fixation necessary to prevent further neurologic damage.”