New oxygen technology enhances the state of health care on the battlefield

22:33 GMT, April 30, 2008 SAN DIEGO | SeQual Technologies Inc., a San Diego-based medical equipment manufacturer which develops oxygen systems known worldwide for their reliability, quality, revolutionary design and economy, recently announced that it is supplying its new rugged, light-weight, battery operated oxygen concentrator, the Eclipse Oxygen System, for integration into the new Mine Resistant Ambush Protection (MRAP) vehicles being deployed for medical needs in support of combat casualty care in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Eclipse is a portable oxygen concentrator. The 17-pound unit, on wheels and about the size of a child's backpack, pulls oxygen from the air and delivers it in nearly-pure form to those with breathing or lung difficulties. Similar to a laptop computer, it needs only AC electrical power from a wall socket, DC electrical power from a vehicle, or its own internal battery to make medical grade oxygen anywhere in the world.

"The Army Research and Materiel Command is purchasing the SeQual Eclipse, to support the outfitting of our MRAP ambulances. The Eclipse has the ability to operate in extreme temperatures and environments, eliminating the safety hazard of pressurized oxygen within a confined space, supplying medical grade oxygen on demand and eliminating the logistical burden of continual resupply of cylinders," said Bill Howell, Deputy for Acquisition and Advanced Development at the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command in Fort Detrick, MD.

Jim Bixby, SeQual CEO, said he is pleased that "the Army has recognized our state-of-the-art technology as a solution to meet the oxygen needs for combat casualties. The long-term cooperative arrangement SeQual has with the US Army to solve medical oxygen issues on the battlefield continues to advance our product offerings and challenge the engineering team to ruggedize products for harsh environments. The Eclipse is the first generation product out of this initiative."