U.S. Army Honors Oregon Medical Device Maker With Innovation Award

It’s official. SAM Medical’s junctional tourniquet is the Greatest Innovation of 2015, according to the U.S. Army. 

The Wilsonville, Ore.-based medtech manufacturer recently received the Army honor. Due to the spread of terrorism into the civilian setting, the most common cause of casualties on the battlefield has now come to Main Street. Blast injuries from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) often result in high-level amputations and pelvic fractures. These injuries, which occur where the arms and legs meet the body, produce severe high pressure bleeding that cannot be controlled by ordinary tourniquets.
 
After extensive international “head to head” testing, the SAM junctional tourniquet was deployed by the U.S. Army as its preferred solution for this lethal condition. When asked, “If you went to war tomorrow, which junctional tourniquet would you take?” the SAM junctional tourniquet was the unanimous choice of the U.S. Army, NATO, and Israeli military medics.
 
The SAM Junctional Tourniquet was named the group category winner of the Army’s Major General Harold “Harry” Greene Award for Innovation. This award recognizes new and innovative technologies provided by the Research and Development and Science and Technology communities, as well as soldiers in the field.

The tourniquet for hemorrhage control is designed to control bleeding where tourniquets would not be effective, such as with IED/blast injuries or high level amputations. With these types of injuries, time is of the essence. The tourniquet offers a simple design. It is compact, easy to use (only four steps), and quick to apply (typically under 25 seconds). The target compression device (TCD) is placed at or near the injury site and pumped up until the bleeding stops. Two TCDs can be used to occlude blood flow bilaterally if needed. The rugged design ensures that the device stays firmly attached to the patient during transport. Designed to exceed MIL-STD-810g requirements.
 
In addition, the SAM junctional tourniquet is touted by the company as the only junctional hemorrhage device cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to stabilize pelvic fractures. Recent studies indicate that IED-type injuries often have associated pelvic fractures. The patented buckle provides the clinically correct force every time, taking the guesswork out of tightening. This is vital in high stress environments where over-tightening or under-tightening could potentially be harmful. The tourniquet provides the clinically correct force for pelvic fractures.
 
“We had one goal in mind, and that was to significantly improve the survivability of injured warfighters,” said Dr. Sam Scheinberg, CEO of SAM Medical. “It is incredibly satisfying to know that we are making such a difference with this product. To have received this award is immensely validating and a great honor.”
 
The SAM Junctional Tourniquet was developed as a result of the concerted research efforts of army scientists at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, military surgeons, and strategic partnerships with the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, as well as outside universities and companies. Team members specifically recognized by the award include Dr. John Kragh Jr., Dr. Michael Dubick, Colonel Lauren Blackbourne, Dr. James Johnson, and Colonel Lance Cardoni.
 
SAM Medical is a medical device developer and manufacturer of products used for emergency, military, law enforcement, wilderness medicine, sports medicine, and pre-hospital care. SAM products  include the SAM splint, chest seal, junctional tourniquet, pelvic sling, ChitoSAM, and SAM soft shell splint.