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Nanoparticle Infused Gauze Quickly Stanches Wounds

Posted by Soulskill on from the it's-bloody-quick dept.

jackieduvall writes "Medical gauze has received its first upgrade since World War I. Chemists have infused it with nanoparticles derived from kaolin clay, which somehow give it an amazing ability to stop severe bleeding. It was developed when the Navy approached a team of inorganic chemists at the University of California Santa Barbara to solve a problem with QuikClot, a zeolite-based hemostatic agent that became way too hot and caused burns when it came in contact with water or blood. While performing blood clotting tests, they realized that kaolin clay, which has been used as a control for clotting experiments since the 1950s, could also be used as a first aid product." There is a video demonstration alongside the article. It shows the gauze halting the bleeding from a pig's aorta. The blood isn't excessive, but if you're bothered by that sort of thing, you may want to skip the video.

4 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Animal Cruelty by _KiTA_ · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Nanoparticles make everything taste like chicken. That is the power of nanoscience. Anyway, research animals should be eaten if the substances which were used on them are safe. Well, we'll let you can be the first to try a hydrogen-peroxide-bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich, then. :)
  2. Re:This is a US website by dreamchaser · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I think it was a spelling error. The word is 'staunches' and I believe it's spelled the same in US and UK English.

  3. Re:I have a better idea to stop the bleeding! by rossz · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    You are joking, right? How is a reporter an essential element of a relief effort? They aren't there to save lives. In a disaster, a good news story is not a high priority to the people dying. The reporters didn't have any problems getting there, so I where's the problem?

    --
    -- Will program for bandwidth
  4. Re:I have a better idea to stop the bleeding! by c6gunner · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    The UN is great for long term assistance and opening the political doors that enable the US Navy to do it's stuff. In other words the US & UN work best together not in competition.
    Um, no. Have you ever worked with the UN? Talk to any veteran who's been on UN "peacekeeping" ops, and you'll quickly lose your delusions about what they do.

    I mean, if by "long term support" you mean "personnel who sit around and look pretty while the locals get butchered", then yeah, you got it right. Hell, just recently in Lebanon UN forces confronted a handful of terrorists who were smuggling weapons. When the terrorists threatened them with said weapons, the UN promptly ran away. Turns out their new motto is "don't ask, don't tell". And don't get me started on the Rwanda massacres, where the UN started withdrawing even before the violence started.

    And if by "opening the political doors that enable the US Navy to do it's stuff" you mean "criticize and demonize the US at every possible opportunity, while propping up tinpot dictators", then yeah, once again, you're bang on! I mean .... giving Ahmadenijad the floor so he can call the US "The Great Satan" and encourage others to fight against America .... yeah, that opens all kinds of doors! Not to mention the various resolutions and statements made over the years by numerous UN officials.

    The UN has become less effective and more corrupt than the League of Nations which it replaced. It's about time the US pulled out. See how long the UN lasts without them.