SEATTLE, June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- AcousTx Corporation, a leader in the development of medical products based on the application of therapeutic energy, today announced the award of a multi-phase contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The award, potentially up to $30 million over four years, is contracted through the US Army Medical Research and Material Command and is in support of DARPA’s Deep Bleeder Acoustic Coagulation (DBAC) program. Phase I funding is approximately $8 million.
Blood loss from extremity wounds is the number one cause of preventable battlefield death today. The goal of this high priority program is to save soldiers’ lives on the battlefield through the development of a portable system that will automatically locate and non-invasively treat bleeding vessels in arms and legs. The envisioned system uses advanced diagnostic ultrasound techniques with automated control to locate the bleeding and to direct the delivery of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) energy to the target site(s) to stop the bleed.
“I am very pleased that AcousTx is continuing to develop technology that will help identify and treat internal injuries,” said U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash). “We owe it to our brave men and women to give them every possible tool needed to complete their mission and return home safely. Further development of the AcousTx ultrasound technology has the potential to help protect our fighting men and women and save lives.”
“Extremity wounds account for almost 80% of Operation Iraqi Freedom injuries,” said Joseph Eichinger, President of AcousTx. “Successful development of the DBAC ultrasound system will save lives and prevent amputations. This exciting project should lead to significant advances in emergency trauma care for both military and commercial applications.”
AcousTx’ team includes Siemens Corporate Research, Inc. and Therus Corporation, a HIFU innovator developing the first commercial implementation of remote acoustic hemostasis using image guided therapy.
About AcousTx Corporation
AcousTx Corporation, formed in 2002, is a privately held company developing innovative products based on the application of therapeutic energy to treat significant medical needs. Located in downtown Seattle, the company’s pioneering scientists and engineers believe that many medical needs can be best addressed with a “leave nothing behind” philosophy -- no sutures, no clips, no implants. Using various forms of targeted energy, such as ultrasound or radio frequency, the targeted tissue can be functionally modified to accomplish the same therapeutic effects as implanted devices, but without the inherent risks. More about AcousTx can be found at www.acoustxcorp.com.
AcousTx Corporation
CONTACT: Joseph Eichinger, President, +1-206-832-4603, or Randy Serroels,General Manager, +1-206-832-4655, both of AcousTx Corporation
Web site: http://www.acoustxcorp.com//
