Internal Bleeding

Currently, techniques to stop bleeding include manually sealing off the vessel with stitches, using electrical current to generate heat which seals off blood vessels, or using a topical agent. However, all of these technologies require an incision in the skin in order to reach the bleeding.

Currently, no effective treatments exist that are portable and can stop internal bleeding at the scene, Lavik explained. At the hospital, however, patients typically undergo surgery and receive donated platelets or something called factor VIIa, which helps with clotting, but both can cause immune problems. Factor VIIa also can potentially cause blood clots elsewhere in the body, not just at the site of bleeding, increasing stroke risk. Other alternatives have been developed in the laboratory, but they've had similar side effects and are not currently used in hospitals.