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Archive for 2010

Military Emergency Tourniquet – Generation II

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Tier-One Quality Solutions recently unveiled a new version of their popular Military Emergency Tourniquet, integrating improvements based on feedback from operational use. For example slight material changes have been made to ensure the tourniquet doesn’t loosen after application. The windlass has also been redesigned and is machined from aluminum.

Additionally, the MET is now available in MultiCam as well as AOR1 by special order to authorized customers. They also offer a couple of different color-matched, PALS-compatible sheathing options so it is best to discuss your particular needs with a representative.

This is an indispensable piece of kit when you consider 60% of all preventable deaths encountered on the battlefield are the result of uncontrolled life threatening hemorrhaging at the point of wounding. The swift application of a tourniquet is a critical life-saving measure.

The MET has been awarded NSN 6515-01-537-9259. To order the MET as well as any of their other products, visit www.tqsresponse.com.

Tags: TQS
Posted in Medical | Comments Off on Military Emergency Tourniquet – Generation II

Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS

Monday, April 19th, 2010

The Foretrex 401 is a lightweight (3.1 oz with batteries!), wrist mounted GPS receiver that has become very popular with troops down range. The 401 can often be seen strapped to a weapon’s stock so that the shooter can conduct a GPS check by simply rolling his carbine toward his face. In addition to GPS, the device also integrates an electronic compass (yes, mounting it to a rifle affects it) as well as a barometric sensor which comes in quite handy while operating in mountainous terrain. The Foretrex 401 also runs the free Jumpmaster Software package designed to assist parachutists to compute release points. Data for this as well as other applications is easily updated via a USB cable. As an added bonus, you can share waypoint and track data wirelessly with other 401s. It is powered by readily available by 2 AAA batteries which provide up to 17 hours of use.

The best place we have found to purchase Garmin products is Strohman Enterprises. In fact, they have a special on the Foretrex 401 for $159. Owned by Lt Col USMC (Ret) Joseph Strohman, the company supplies Garmin and Aimpoint products to LE & Military organizations as well as individual personnel. Joe and his crew are well versed in all of the products and can answer customer’s questions about anything from mounting solutions to loading map data for the AOR.

Tags: Garmon, GPS
Posted in Comms, Deal of the Week, Gadgets, Recce | Comments Off on Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

Applying negative pressure or suction to a wound promotes healing by keeping fluid from building up in the wound. A few years ago students in an MIT mechanical engineering class decided to work on a pump to provide suction for wounds. With the help of Dr. Robert Sheridan from Massachusetts General Hospital, the students developed a simple, inexpensive, and lightweight version of the system that required no power supply and could be left in place for days. Danielle Zurovcik SM ’07, was one of those students and not only continued to refine the technology in her master’s thesis but plans make it the subject of her doctoral studies as well.

The pump now has some real world experience thanks to Zurovcik providing 50 of the $3 pumps to Partners in Health for use in the Haitian relief effort. The Partners in Health team was led by led by Dr. Robert Riviello of the Division of Trauma, Burn and Surgical Critical Care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “Our biggest challenge at the moment is ensuring a reliably intact seal on human skin [that can be] easily applied,” Riviello says. “If we can resolve this, then I think there is enormous potential.” There is a new, more compact version of the device in production and Zurovcik plans on further studies in Rwanda later this year.

While the technology is available today in any western care facility, it is expensive, relying on shore power or frequent battery changes. This pump is power-free. It’s one step up from ditch medicine and that’s simply because it’s a purpose built solution, but it remains inexpensive and easy to apply. The new MIT pump offers many advantages for military or wilderness use. With suction applied, dressing can be kept in place longer; in some cases up to three days. This is a boon for situations where supplies or health care professionals are limited.

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Camo Scrubs

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

Nursejoe is a supplier of military and civilian scrubs for working in extreme conditions. They offer a wide variety patterns, colors, and styles. Tops are available with or without name and rank pile tape and there are three styles of pocket choices. They also offer matching scrub pants for most tops. Depending on the style, pants feature an elastic waist band or draw string for comfort. Additionally, most pants also have two side pockets for storing various equipment, pens, etc. Camo prints are their specialty and they offer scrubs in MultiCam, woodland digital (MARPAT-like), the new Navy digital, Air Force tiger as well as UCP, in addition to several other patterns. Sizes vary from XS to 3XL, but beware their sizes run big. They also have scrub hats and surgical scrubs available. So if you are in the market for a set of “tactical” scrubs check out nursejoe.com

Tags: Nurse Joe
Posted in Camo, Clothing, Medical, Multicam | Comments Off on Camo Scrubs

HP Developing Flexible Solar Powered Displays

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

Hewlett Packard is developing a mew flexible display that is solar powered which can be adapted for use as a wrist-mount. The obvious advantage to a solar powered device is that it sheds the Soldier’s reliance on batteries. â€œSoldiers in the infantry carry enormous amounts of batteries and gadgets that can weigh up to 70 pounds,â€ says Carl Taussig, director of HPâ€™s Information Surfaces lab, according to a post on Wired’s Gadget lab. Taussig plans to offer the displays to the military next year which are just 200 microns thick. Printed using the same E Ink technology as the Kindle, the circuitry for the display is rolled on in a process similar to traditional printing while optical and electronic components will be stamped onto the plastic backing. HP has already spun out a company called Phicot to produce these displays. The power will come from existing solar cell technology that is easily integrated into fabric.

Of course the two major obstacles to this technology are being bright enough to see in the day and dim enough to see at night without giving away your location to an enemy. Then there is whole night time issue. It doesn’t require batteries but the US military does it’s best work at night. How long will it hold a solar charge?

Tags: HP
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Stuff We Didn’t Write About

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

Every week we run across stuff that is cool but doesn’t make it into the daily for whatever reason. Here are this week’s picks:

Nomad RV
The infamous body armor t-shirt
Opera Mini approved for iPhone
TED: Mark Roth Discusses Suspended Animation
Russian Tactical AKs

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1911 Knife from Ultimate Equipment

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Ultimate Equipment has introduced a new hand-made folder inspired by the 1911 pistol. What makes the knife so unique is that it is manufactured with standard 1911 pistol bushings, grip screws, and grip panels which means it accepts the same grips as the pistol. Offered with a lifetime warranty, it is available in blackened 440C blades, satin polished 440C blades, and CPM S30V blades.

“Finally, there is a companion to the legendary firearm.”

www.ultimate-equipment.com

Tags: Ultimate Equipment
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Point Blank Files Chapter 11

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Armor manufacturer Point Blank, a Delaware Corporation based in Florida, announced yesterday that it has filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 reorganization. The Company also announced that it has reached an agreement for up to $20 million of Debtor-in-Possession (“DIP”) financing, pending bankruptcy court approval. The DIP is a loan to help with the restructuring. At the end of Wednesday trading, the company’s stock had fallen to .05 per share.

The company blames the need to file for bankruptcy on “continued expenses associated with legacy issues from former management, and the lack of financing available to the Company given the state of the credit markets.” Those “legacy issues” are that the former CEO David Brooks is under indictment for fraud and the company itself has been under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the subject of a shareholder lawsuit. All told, this costs Point Blank about $600,000 a month on legal fees.

But let’s face it, they grew rapidly to accommodate OTV and IOTV contracts and then they didn’t sustain the same level of work. It happens. Other companies are dealing with issues in their own ways as well. Maybe they can find a small business shill to get them some work under the proposed IOTV Class Waiver.

Posted in Armor, Industry | 1 Comment »