MOSCOW — Russian defence manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern has developed a new kaolin-based hemostatic bandage designed to stop severe arterial bleeding within two to three minutes. According to the company, the product achieved a 91% success rate during medical testing, making it one of the highest-performing hemostatic products currently available on the Russian market.
The new medical products include kaolin-based Z-fold hemostatic gauze and QuikMed field dressing kits. They were recently presented at the Second All-Russian Scientific Conference of the People's Experimental Design Bureau, held at the Skolkovo Technopark in Moscow, where they attracted interest from medical professionals working in trauma and emergency care.
Designed for Rapid Bleeding Control
The new bandage is intended for use in situations where rapid control of severe bleeding is critical, including battlefield injuries, emergency response, accidents, and trauma care. Uncontrolled bleeding remains one of the leading causes of preventable death after serious injuries, making fast hemostasis an important part of emergency treatment.
The dressing uses kaolin, a naturally occurring white clay, as its active ingredient. When the kaolin-impregnated gauze comes into contact with blood, it activates clotting Factor XII, helping the body's natural clotting process begin quickly.
The material also absorbs water from the blood, concentrating clotting factors directly at the wound site. This helps form a stable clot and control bleeding, including from major arteries, without affecting the body's overall blood-clotting system.
Safety Features
According to the developers, the kaolin-based composition is non-toxic and does not produce heat during use, unlike some earlier chemical hemostatic agents that could generate exothermic reactions and increase the risk of tissue burns. The dressing also maintains the wound's natural pH level.
Medical testing highlighted several additional features of the product. Besides stopping bleeding within two to three minutes, the dressing was reported to reduce the likelihood of recurrent bleeding during the first 30 minutes after application. Researchers also observed lower levels of localized inflammation, which may help reduce complications once patients receive hospital treatment.
The Z-fold gauze can remain safely inside a wound for more than 24 hours if necessary. It also contains a radiopaque thread, allowing surgeons to detect and remove any remaining gauze during treatment using X-ray imaging.
Current Use
Kalashnikov Concern is already supplying the QuikMed field dressing kits and kaolin-based hemostatic gauze to Russian uniformed agencies for inclusion in standard first-aid kits.
In addition to field and emergency applications, the company said the products are seeing increasing use in hospitals. Clinical reports indicate that the dressing has also been effective in controlling bleeding during gynecological surgeries, expanding its use beyond military and emergency medicine.
The development reflects ongoing efforts to improve trauma care by providing medical personnel with faster and more effective tools to manage life-threatening bleeding in both military and civilian healthcare settings.
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