SFC Eric Smeed of the U.S. Army In-stitute of Surgical Research (USAISR) has developed a patent-protected met-al framework that attaches to evacua-tion litters and holds individual pieces of medical equipment needed for op-timal patient transport. The Special Medical Emergency Evacuation De-vice (SMEED) stabilizes a variety of medical devices, such as ventilators and oxygen cylinders, replacing the traditional method of attaching such equipment directly to the transported patient. Lightweight and adjustable, the 14-inch by 22-inch SMEED adapts for use in any Department of Defense medical vehicle.SFC Smeed invented the critical care platform specifically to lessen the dis-comfort of burn victims during medical transport. Enthusiastic responses from those testing his prototype convinced Smeed that the creation had greater lifesaving potential through technolo-gy transfer. The Army physical thera-pist refined his design through several prototypes, while searching for devel-opment funding that ultimately came from the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity. The Army sub-sequently patented the device and in 2002 awarded a Small Business In-novation Research contract and ex-clusive license agreement to Impact Instrumentation, Inc. of New Jersey. The company further developed the technology, manufacturing a com-mercial product now on the market. The U.S. military has purchased hundreds of the company’s SMEED platforms, currently used by medical units deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.The commercialization exemplifies the military goal of technology tran-sition, moving a military-designed technology to private industry for de-velopment and eventual government purchase for general military use. The SMEED solves critical problems of limited time and space typical in combat and other disaster situa-tions. It eliminates the need to fasten uncomfortable equipment directly to patients and gives health care provid-ers a clear view of any readout moni-tors on attached medical devices. As patients are transferred from point of injury to various care centers, delicate equipment can be quickly exchanged or added as needed. The SMEED technology expedites the evacuation of wounded soldiers, preserving lives and safeguarding military resources.