Inspired by battlefield medicine, two Israeli medical researchers have developed a way of treating more patients – especially soldiers – in the "golden hour".

The "golden hour", according to emergency room doctors, is the 60 minutes immediately following an injury, during which quicker and more efficient healing can take place, and chances of a full recovery are higher.  For those near hospitals, receiving "golden hour" treatment is relatively easy.  But for soldiers, receiving hospital-quality treatment within the "golden hour" has been difficult.

Thanks to Tal Inbar and Dr. Eran Schenker, head of the Fisher Institute Aerospace Medicine Research Center, recovery odds may be greatly increased for soldiers and others injured far from hospitals, because of the MedUAV – an unmanned air vehicle that can hover, land, or take off vertically, without the need for a runway or landing pad.

In an interview with Israel21c, Dr. Schenker explained that the flying machine can also be used to deliver medical supplies and advanced gear into the field.

"The challenge is getting the soldier to the treatment area," Schenker explained. "Evacuating patients in time to take advantage of that first hour where treatment is so vital, is very difficult, because often helicopters or other modes of transport can't get to the field because of the ongoing battle - and it's impossible to take all the equipment that would be needed for proper care right to the front."

The MedUAV will also allow off-site doctors to monitor a patient's vital signs, readings, and measurements, so treatment planning can begin before the patient even arrives at the hospital.  The device may also be used to allow field workers to administer treatments with the help of guidance from the machine.

Schenker says the most practical way to evacuate soldiers is the stretcher, saying the MedUAV is the 21st century answer to the World War I-aged technology.

Smaller and less costly than a helicopter, Schenker believes commanders may be more willing to evacuate soldiers using the MedUAV than using helicopters, the MedUAV being unmanned, and a smaller target.

The US Navy has already approached Schenker with interest in purchasing the device.

The Fisher Institute is a non-profit research organization that funds air and space technology projects.