Revolutionary gunshot-plugging syringe saves soldier on battlefield (VIDEO)

A groundbreaking wound-plugging device that can prevent life-threatening bleeding in just 15 seconds has been credited with saving a soldier’s life after its first reported use in the field.

The ‘XSTAT’ device, which looks like a giant toy syringe, was approved for military use in 2014 and by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the end of last year.

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It has now reportedly saved its first life on the battlefield - a coalition forces soldier injured in action with a gunshot wound to the left thigh. This is the first documented clinical use of the product since its release, according to its US manufacturer RevMedx, the Journal of Emergency Medical Services reports.

The device works by quickly pumping tablet-sized sponges into the wound using a syringe-like applicator. The sponges then rapidly expand in the wound and exert hemostatic pressure to keep blood inside the blood vessels.

Each sponge has an x-ray detectable marker to ensure its complete surgical removal afterwards.

In its first reported field use, the XSTAT Rapid Hemostasis System was deployed following an unsuccessful seven-hour surgery to stop hemorrhaging from the soldier’s injuries. A single ‘shot’ of the hemostatic device was applied, resulting in an almost immediate halt to the bleeding.

"We are pleased to see XSTAT play a critical role in saving a patient’s life and hope to see significant advancement toward further adoption of XSTAT as a standard of care for severe hemorrhage in pre-hospital settings,” said Andrew Barofsky, president and CEO of RevMedx.

The device is designed for use on patients at high risk of life-threatening blood loss and could prove particularly useful for treating wounds in hard-to-reach areas like the groin or armpit.

The company spent three years developing the idea and were assisted by a $5 million grant from the US Army to create the device, according to PBS.