ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers are asking industry for autonomous ways to stop severe bleeding on the battlefield where traditional medical intervention is not available or too slow to enhance survival rates by rapidly controlling bleeding quickly before trained medical personnel can intervene.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency issued a program solicitation (DARPA-PS-25-34) in September for the Medics Autonomously Stopping Hemorrhage (MASH) program.
MASH seeks to develop medical devices, systems, and technologies that autonomously can detect, assess, and treat severe or uncontrolled bleeding in real-time -- particularly in combat or remote areas where access to traditional medical support is delayed or unavailable.
Controlling bleeding is among the most important concerns in battlefield medicine, because a severely wounded warfighter without proper care can bleed to death in as little as two to five minutes.
External and internal bleeding
The program focuses on creating a system that can automatically detect external and internal hemorrhaging; evaluate the severity of the bleeding; and autonomously apply treatments like applying hemostatic dressings, tourniquets, or clotting agents.
The goal is to increase the survivability of casualties when the injured are alone, unconscious, or incapacitated, and when doctors or trained medics are not available. MASH technologies may involve sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning.
DARPA wants industry to develop sensors able to identify external and internal severe bleeding in real-time, including detection of active bleeding from arterial, venous, and capillary vessels. The system should be able to differentiate between different types of bleeding and rank the most urgent cases.
The system must be able to evaluate the severity of bleeding, possibly using several different diagnostic tools like ultrasound and infrared imaging, or through bio-signals like changes in blood pressure or heart rate. This should include assessing the location and size of the wound, the amount of blood loss, and the need for advanced interventions.
Tell me more about today's techniques for controlling bleeding on the battlefield ...
- Bleeding control is critical for survival in combat trauma. Key techniques include immediate pressure, extremity tourniquets for limb wounds, and junctional devices for wounds where tourniquets can't be used. Hemostatic dressings and wound packing promote clotting in deep or penetrating wounds. Systemic drugs like tranexamic acid (TXA) reduce bleeding, while REBOA temporarily controls noncompressible torso hemorrhage. Emerging technologies, such as synthetic platelets and smart dressings, aim to improve bleeding control. Medics use tools like the Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT), XStat, and TXA within protocols for rapid evacuation to higher care. Regular hands-on training ensures proper use, and clear documentation is vital to prevent complications.
In addition, the system should deploy appropriate hemostatic treatments autonomously like chemical compounds that promote blood clotting; devices like tourniquets or pressure bandages that can stop external bleeding; and tools that may apply electrical or mechanical forces to seal or coagulate vessels.
Subsystems and components should work well in field hospitals, combat zones, and remote locations, and be effective in extreme temperatures, varying terrain, and in moving vehicles.
The system should include a user interface to help medical personnel monitor actions, provide feedback, and intervene if needed. This could involve a wearable device or a display integrated into a broader medical system.
Technologies should be lightweight, portable, and durable enough to function in harsh, unpredictable conditions; require minimal maintenance; and be easy to deploy in the field.
Smooth coordination
The MASH system should integrate with existing military and civilian medical protocols and equipment to enable smooth coordination with traditional medical teams once they arrive.
Of particular interest is the ability to detect and assess hemorrhages autonomously in real-time with high accuracy, with equipment compact enough for practical deployment in wearable formats or as a field deployable unit.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for controlling severe or uncontrolled bleeding, researchers point out. The system must be able to address many bleeding scenarios like arterial vs. venous bleeding -- even in wet conditions, and potential exposure to dust or dirt.
Companies interested should submit proposals no later than 25 Nov. 2025 to the DARPA BAA Tool online at https://baa.darpa.mil. Email questions or concerns to DARPA at [email protected]. More information is online at https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/6d826add665048888c9317b598e61991/view.
