Secure Surgical Solutions

Saline, the lifeblood of all hospital/medical systems, is supplied by only five or fewer companies in the United States. While saline is inexpensive, supply is restricted due to limitations in the manufacturing/transportation process. Challenges include but are not limited to saline quality problems, insufficient production capacity, and a lack of local/regional production facilities, leading to transportation difficulties and downstream supply deficits in times of crisis. In order to overcome the stated challenges, we propose using a new and innovative low-power membrane-based osmotic device that will allow for the easy local production of saline under any scenario. Our device can use local low-quality (marginal) water sources, including but not limited to river water, pond water, and gray wastewater, to produce medical saline that can augment existing saline supplies in times of crisis. The device can be run on solar/battery power, or even simple hydraulic pressure. Customers for this device include hospital systems, ambulatory care centers, The US Department of Defense health services and other governmental agencies, humanitarian medical organizations, and public and private aerospace corporations. This device will enhance saline security (i.e., reliable availability of acceptable quality and quantity of saline) for hospitals, communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and countries that face transportation barriers that challenge their ability to obtain critically needed surgical solutions.