According to the researchers, the system is designed to be used in emergency situations — such as terrorist attacks and other public emergencies — to control an injured person’s bleeding and to perform an emergency thoracotomy, which is surgery for gaining access to the pleural space of the chest.

This so-called three-minute device promises to potentially save a patient’s life, the researchers suggest, through a precise division of tasks that includes securing the patient’s airway, performing an emergency thoracotomy, controlling bleeding and administering transfusions to restart blood circulation rapidly

The developers describe a process that involves puncturing the patient’s left ventricle to attach an artificial pump while performing emergency resuscitation and intubation simultaneously. Then, the pump is connected to the patient’s femoral artery to create a blood flow, thereby restoring the heart’s circulatory function.

The team added that in situations where connecting through the femoral artery is challenging due to the injury’s location, the system can offer an alternative route. Likewise, in the event a lung injury is involved, the system also allows for the addition of an artificial lung.

“The window to prevent brain death following the cessation of blood circulation is only three minutes,” the research team explained. “A system that can resume circulation within this time frame is crucial. In emergencies, faster methods than this one that we have now remain impractical. If implemented, this system could significantly increase the number of patients saved.”