Announcing the Winners: The 2023 EMS World Innovation Awards

EMS World is proud to announce the recipients of the 2023 Innovation Awards. This award program recognizes the industry’s most pioneering products of the year that were on full display at EMS World Expo, held September 20–22 in New Orleans.

An independent panel of judges met with company representatives to evaluate each entry, learn about its application, and determine whether it was worthy of this honor. Entries must be new or have undergone significant design changes since August 2022.

Presented in alphabetical order, these are the products and services our judging panel deemed the most innovative developments in EMS this year. EMS World thanks our judging panel for their service: Brooke Burton, NRP, FACPE, QI/controlled substance manager for Unified Fire Authority, Salt Lake City, Utah; Dan Gerard, MS, RN, NRP, president of the International Association of EMS Chiefs; Michael Gerber, senior editor for Health Affairs; Mark Levine, MD, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and associate medical director, St. Louis (Mo.) Fire Dept.; and Tracey Loscar, chief of operations, Mat-Su Borough EMS, Wasilla, Alaska.

For more information about these award-winning products, visit the EMS World Online Product Directory at www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/emssource. And mark your calendars for EMS World Expo 2024, Sept. 9-13 in Las Vegas.

BioConnect

MedixSafe Retrofit Kit

www.bioconnect.com

The MedixSafe Retrofit Kit was created specifically to address the challenge of complying with ever-evolving state and federal complicance requirements. It allows EMS agencies, pharmacies and other health care facilities to keep their existing safes and easily replace the authentication device on the existing safe door, giving them access to BioConnect’s latest platform to deliver higher levels of authentication, compliance reporting and ongoing updates delivered through cloud architecture.

Judges' Feedback:

"The low form factor of the keypad is attractive—a bulky keypad unit would make upgrading an existing safe problematic if it increased the front façade."

Caspr Technologies

Transit 2.0

www.casprtech.com

CASPR Transit units disinfect air and surfaces through an organic process creating hydrogen peroxide oxidizers. The 2.0 model was revised to fit the UL standard 867 for electrical and ozone compliance. Real-world testing was performed with an anonymous ambulance company, comparing samples collected from surfaces in an ambulance with CASPR Transit and pooled samples from similar control ambulances, concluding 95% less in bacteria load as measured with CFU/cm2.

Judges' Feedback:

"Very broad application; device can be used in an ambulance or in a station. Allows for continuous cleaning in the back of the ambulance. We needed this device 20 years ago."

Danny’s Dose Alliance

Emergency Alert Headrest Cover

www.dannysdose.com

The founder of Danny’s Dose Alliance created the company’s first Headrest Cover following her grandson’s diagnosis of severe hemophilia B when he was 11 months old. The original covers had the patient’s medical information pocket on the back. The new design moves the pocket to the front for greater visibility by emergency responders and incorporates a black color for improved utilization by teenage and young adults who cited the previous yellow color as a barrier to utilization.

Judges' Feedback:

"A good device and supplements a need in the space of similar ‘Medic-Alert’ type products."

Foxfury Lighting Solutions

Nomad 360 MD

www.foxfury.com

The Nomad 360 Scene Light was innovated to offer true-to-life color accuracy with high color rendering index (CRI) LEDs. This upgrade allows medical and emergency professionals to see clear, vibrant tones across the full-color spectrum when rendering aid and photographing scenes or patients. The multi-functional Nomad 360 can be used indoors or outdoors, is waterproof up to 10 feet, offers up to 24 hours of battery life, is cordless to prevent trip hazards in tight spaces, easily cleaned and disinfected, and silent for potentially sensitive situations.

Judges' Feedback:

"Compact, quick to deploy on the scene where lighting is crucial, these units are stellar."

Gaumard Scientific

Ultrasound for HAL S5301

www.gaumard.com

Allows you to facilitate ultrasound training with the HAL® S5301 interdisciplinary patient simulator through full-scale immersive emergency and trauma scenarios. Simulates the function and feel of a real portable ultrasound machine. Transducer range-of-motion and imaging is dynamic and lifelike. The new HAL Emergency POCUS/eFAST module offers you a library of emergency ultrasound case imaging covering a wide variety of trauma presentations.

Judges' Feedback:

"As a training device for ultrasound it is excellent. It appears that there is no lag time when used with the manikin and the monitor/computer, exactly as it would be with an actual ultrasound."

Hinckley Medical

OneDose

www.hinckleymed.com

OneDose is a revolutionary protocol management solution that pairs seamlessly with the award-winning OneWeight by Hinckley Medical. From pre-scene to hospital handoff, OneDose empowers you to interactively oversee patient treatment like never before. By integrating with the OneWeight patient scale, it ensures the utmost safety in prehospital care. OneDose powered by OneWeight represents a groundbreaking advancement in protocol management, delivering unmatched accuracy and efficiency to enhance emergency medical services.

Judges' Feedback:

"This protocol and dosing app seems intuitive and useful."

IMMI

MBrace

www.imminet.com

MBrace is an advanced airbag safety system designed specifically to protect EMS providers inside the ambulance compartment during frontal impacts, in addition to rollover events. MBrace provides an innovative multi-point restraint, giving providers the freedom to work, then integrates it with an airbag into the restraint system. MBrace protects the head and neck during a frontal collision like no other safety system. Designed and engineered by IMMI, and tested at the Advanced Center for Product Evaluation (CAPE), MBrace takes EMT safety during the most common type of ambulance collisions to the next level.

Judges' Feedback:

"Cool new safety features on this provider seatbelt/restraint system."

Intersurgical Inc.

Universal Stylet Bougie (USB)

www.intersurgicalinc.com

A hybrid stylet bougie in one simple-to-use device. The USB incorporates two metal inserts with different and distinct properties on either side of a more flexible middle section, allowing for enhanced mechanical amplification of the tracheal rings. When used as a stylet, the metal inserts allow for the USB to be easily manipulated to a variety of angles. In addition, the unique hexagonal shape provides optimal grip and allows for inherent directionality, ensuring orientation of the device is always clear. The USB can be used with direct or video laryngoscopy.

"Cool and simple. Need to make the case that the benefits are worth the cost."

Inva-Lift

Lift Chair

invalift-usa.com

The Inva-Lift is a lightweight, fully mobile floor lift chair. It allows a single caregiver the ability to easily lift a fallen person off the floor with the push of a button. The Inva-Lift has been specifically designed to fit in fire engines and ambulances. With its 500-pound lifting capacity and lightweight sturdy frame, it is ideal for MIH providers as well. The patient can be easily assisted to their feet or wheeled to a transfer destination.

Meret

TRS Pro X

www.meretusa.com

The TRS Pro X is an all-new tactical response sling—a rapid-access sling pack designed for operational and tactical medics who need quick access to critical care trauma and bleeding supplies while providing ballistic protection for the user. Just spin it around to your front side, drop the zipper pullers, and the large main pocket swings open for immediate view of four removable and customizable trauma supply panels ready for use or readily deployed to team members.

Judges' Feedback:

"It has an area for a ballistic plate (cool concept) and it opens like a tray that cigarette girls from the 30s and 40s used, which makes it easy to grab stuff instead of putting down, rifling through, etc. Neat concept for sure!"

Meret

Turnout Pro X

www.meretusa.com

The only duffel specifically designed and built by firefighters to properly store and carry both structural and wildland turnout gear between firehouses or between jobs, and isolate contaminated gear for cleaning. Meets IAFF guidelines. Non-absorbing infection control construction can be easily wiped clean and decontaminated. No MERET USA bags contain polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals, which have been linked to cancer—the leading cause of firefighter deaths.

Judges' Feedback:

"Construction seems good. Can also be washed out. However, it is a big bag."

Mission Critical

Protocols

www.mcprotocols.io

This state-of-the-art application simplifies the intricate process of creating, publishing, and distributing EMS policies and protocols to frontline providers. MCP empowers users to share policy elements such as images, links, and medications across multiple policies and datasets. Administrators only need to build and update their policies—MCP technology takes care of extending all additional functionality. The user-focused, AI-powered approach includes a plethora of mobile-specific user functionalities and a modern suite of tools such as a medication calculator.

Judges' Feedback:

"They will take your protocols and put them into a web-based app form that has a lot of hyperlink and choices on how each user reads (flow chart, text heavy, lists). Good idea. Seems to be very flexible."

Moulage Concepts

TECC/MCI (CAPE) Special Needs Response

www.moulageconcepts.com

An innovative top-down, interconnected approach to TECC/MCI training development, response, and crisis communication, TECC/MCI Special Needs Response from Moulage Concepts connects simulation training to community preparedness through 3D moulage, scenario customization, playing with purpose, and immersive art. Meets Homeland Security for Children’s Act for Natural Disaster and Safe and Sound Schools Active Shooter Preparedness requirements.

Judges' Feedback:

"Not exactly practical for EMS use, but theoretically good for all ages from a social work/counselor standpoint."

North American Rescue

Enhanced Air Release System

www.narescue.com

The ARS™ is a new offering in North American Rescue’s needle decompression product line that brings an improved needle tip design with scalpel-sharp, bi-bevel, tapered needle tip, which improves penetration control through tissue of varied type and thickness, a fenestrated catheter for tension relief and the prevention of distal catheter occlusion, and centimeter-graduated catheter identification for precise placement.

Judges' Feedback:

"Meets the need of a more sturdy and less clogging (and longer) decompression needle."

Pedi-Ed-Trics Emergency Medical Solutions

Neo-Wheel EMS/ER Edition

www.pedied.com

A quick and easy solution for babies born in the ambulance or ER who are smaller than those listed on any of the currently available apps. Helps prehospital professionals with what they really want and need to know during a baby’s first moments of life. The Neo-Wheel is an easy to reference wheel that fits in your pocket and gets you critical life-saving information for newborns as small as 500 grams.

Judges' Feedback:

"Very similar to the prior Peds-Wheel but for neonates. Great for ER-based medic/RN/MDs who want something non-digital."

Pneumeric

Capnospot

www.pneumeric-medical.com

The Pneumeric Capnospot transforms the needle decompression procedure from subjective to objective. The device transitions from dark purple to bright yellow when CO2 is detected. If the catheter becomes blocked, occluded, or other issues develop, it will revert to the dark purple color. Can be used with any commercially available decompression needle.

Judges' Feedback:

"This could become a staple device for any agency that does needle thoracostomies. It is inexpensive, easy to store and does not require the purchase of a particular type of catheter for the procedure. Colormetric technology is familiar and makes it easy for agencies to educate on and implement. Increases the chance that it will get used regularly."

Rescue Essentials

Slishman Traction Splint Generation 2

www.tritechusa.com

The Slishman Traction Splint Gen2 offers all the benefits of the original STS plus additional advances. The STS Gen2 is the fastest splint on the market to apply and requires no individual poles or complicated mechanisms. The traction mechanism creates a pushing force on the ankle or distal strap, rather than pulling from the foot. Radiolucent, 17 ounces, one size fits all, multicolor design for easy application steps.

Judges' Feedback:

"There is a lot of innovation in the overall design, especially compared to other traction splints. It can be sized for both adult and peds, the traction comes down from the hip, and it does not have to go past the ankle to be successful."

Technimount EMS

XTension Pro Assistant—CCT

www.technimount.com

Designed with safety and flexibility at the forefront, the XTension Pro Assistant—CCT sets a new standard for the secure transport of multiple medical devices, including ECMO, during EMS and critical care transport. The Xtension Pro Assistant—CCT improves interchangeability between medical devices by integrating Technimount’s universal mounting system. Tested in compliance with SAE J3043, the system integrates an ergonomic gliding system that facilitates lateral patient transfer from hospital bed to stretcher, without causing obstructions or complications.

Judges' Feedback:

"A great product for keeping people safe. Size and weight could be restrictive."

Total Oral Airway Devices

LIVVE

www.toadairways.com

The LIVVE laryngeal intubating, visualization, ventilating extubation device from Total Oral Airway Devices is an industry-first supraglottic, non-inflating cuff airway device with a dedicated flexible bronchoscope camera lumen for continued visualization.

Judges' Feedback:

"This was an interesting upgrade to current airway devices. I like the interchangeable features. The flat design you can mold to need after opening was great and would decrease needed storage space in our tight equipment bags."

Zopec Medical

Transport UPS 90

www.zopec.com

The Zopec Transport UPS 90 is the world’s first transport battery and the world’s smallest medical-grade UPS battery, weighing only 5 pounds. The Transport UPS 90 is FAA and FDA compliant for EMS ground and air transport.

Judges' Feedback:

"While this product is not flashy, it is a large improvement on current batteries on the market and can improve the time able to transport patients between outlets. It is small and easy to use, won’t blow inverters, and won’t burn or melt. AC or solar charging."

Innovation Awards Judges

• Brooke Burton, NRP, FACPE, QI/controlled substance manager, Unified Fire Authority, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Dan Gerard, MS, RN, NRP, president, International Association of EMS Chiefs
• Michael Gerber, senior editor, Health Affairs
• Mark Levine, MD, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; associatemedical director, St. Louis Fire Dept.
• Tracey Loscar, chief of operations, Mat-Su Borough EMS, Wasilla, Alaska