U.S. Military Developing Ultrasonic Tourniquet

Burlap writes to tell us the MIT Technology Review is reporting on a new DARPA venture to create an "ultrasonic tourniquet" to help stem bleeding on injuries sustained in battle. The project plans to commit $51 million over the course of 4 years. From the article: "[I]t aims to create a cuff-like device that wraps around a wounded limb. Rather than applying pressure to the wound to stem the flow of blood, the device would use focused beams of ultrasound (sound waves above the audible frequencies) to non-invasively clot vessels no matter how deep they are."

think of the uses!

[macadamia_harold]

Once applied to a wounded limb, the cuff would automatically detect and then seal damaged blood vessels or arteries, by focusing beams of ultrasonic waves at the wound to clot it, in a process known as high-intensity focused ultrasound, or HIFU.

in other news, the CIA has a large number of "enemy combatants" that have died unexpectedly from stroke...

In related news...

[tacarat]

"An individual from the local Army research center was hospitalized this afternoon. Doctors are puzzled by a mysterious disease that caused his penis to massively swell, then fall off. Witnesses in the emergency room said they heard muttering and sobbing 'I only had it on quarter power!'. It is currently believed that the condition is not contagious".

Re:Think "wounds, sustained in battle"

[KeithLDick]

"Scotty!!!, Beam him up now he only has a few seconds left!!!"... But Captain, the Transporters are not online and Spock Plugged up the Toilet Again... I can't be everywhere at once Ya know!!...

Re:Another great new weapon

[ArcherB]

Shock waves are too brief to do any meaningful heating to tissue. They'll rip off your arm if anything.

At which point, you will need some sort of tourniquet. I hear they are coming out with a "Sonic Tourniquet" that may fit the bill.

Re:Another great new weapon

[Ihlosi]

... dies of massive clotting of the brain.

... and his last words were (translated from Farsi), "Man, that contact gel is some icky stuff.".

Re:Another great new weapon

[andrewman327]

"I believe this could also be a weapon whose end result would be indistinguishable from death by 'natural causes'."

"Excuse me Mr. Abadulakazam, could you please lean forward?"
"Why?"
"Well sir, I want to kill."
"Oh, well in that case here you go."
"Thank you, just let me clamp this around your neck and turn it on."
"Ok."
"Whatever you do, don't remove it. It will take a while to actually kill you, so by removing it you would save your life incredibly easily."
"I'm not one to insult the American government (other than blowing it up) but this seems like a pretty bad weapon."
"Well, DoD heard good things about it from this guy who calls himself Black Sabbeth, so they decided to try it."
"Oh, I see."
"Dead yet?"

Reported uses for the device

[FusionDragon2099]

Early leaked information says that this so-called "sonic tourniquet" is able to open locks, repair mechanical devices, and communicate with computer systems. It is also usable as a tourniquet.