DERT Wound Treatment

Throughout history, battlefield medicine has grappled with the challenge of rapid hemorrhage control. Early techniques — such as tourniquets, direct pressure, and cauterization — saved lives but offered only rudimentary and often unreliable solutions in the dynamic theater of combat. With the advent of modern hemostatic agents, such as Combat Gauze, HemCon, and SurgiFlo, military and emergency medical teams gained more sophisticated tools. However, these treatments can be cumbersome to apply under fire, require meticulous storage conditions, and may carry risks such as thermal injury or infection. In many cases, their application is delayed by complex handling procedures, reducing their effectiveness in life-threatening scenarios.

Oceanit’s novel therapy, known as Dispersible Emergency Response Treatment (DERT), represents a significant leap forward in hemostatic care. Engineered with the needs of military personnel, first responders, and surgical teams in mind, DERT dramatically accelerates blood clotting and reduces blood loss from traumatic injuries. Composed of biodegradable and biocompatible ingredients, its innovative formulation leverages natural biopolymers to induce near-instantaneous clotting. The active components of the DERT dressing promote red blood cell and platelet aggregation while exhibiting bacteriostatic properties, thereby minimizing the risk of infection.

In vitro testing demonstrates that even low concentrations of DERT triggers almost instantaneous clotting of blood and plasma, in stark contrast to the 4–5 minutes required by conventional gauze and leading commercial hemostatic bandages. In situ evaluations using porcine liver models perfused with sheep blood revealed that DERT clots blood between 2.4 and 5 times faster than its counterparts, achieving effective hemostasis in roughly one minute. Preclinical trials further confirmed that DERT can reduce blood loss by as much as 35% compared with standard gauze and commercial products.

By addressing the limitations of both historical and current hemostatic treatments, DERT exemplifies the ongoing evolution in emergency medicine. Its rapid dispersion, ease of application, and enhanced safety profile not only build upon the legacy of past innovations but also set a new standard for managing traumatic hemorrhage in high-pressure environments.