ITClamp
The ITClamp stands for Innovative Trauma Care clamp. It was formerly known as the Tactical Use Skin Closure device. The ITClamp is a group of small curved needles which are embedded within the ‘arms’ of the spring-loaded device. The edges of the wound are pulled together, and up, then clamped together. This stops serious bleeding almost instantly. Because the edges of the wound are lifted, the blood doesn’t have a channel to flow through. This immediately slows bleeding.
Dr. Filips came up with the idea after seeing first hand the difficulties paramedics have with serious and often multiple trauma wounds. Using the ITClamp allows for the paramedics and trauma surgeons to close all the wounds, then choose which is the most life-threatening and work on that (often an abdominal wound). The clamp comes in one size, but for large wounds, doctors can use multiple ITClamps. Dr. Filips expects hospitals to stock around 6 ITClamps in ambulances, and ER doctors could have around 20 on hand in the emergency room. Innovative Trauma Care is currently manufacturing test devices to send to national approval centres such as the United States’ Food and Drug Administraion. They expect approval within 3 months.
For more information see the Province’s original story here.
