Gastroesophageal Resuscitative Occlusion of the Aorta (GROA)

The GROA device non-invasively occludes the aorta by going into the mouth, down the esophagus, and into the stomach, stopping hemorrhage while maintaining blood flow to the heart and brain.

Value Proposition

Uncontrollable hemorrhage is a major cause of preventable death and the #1 cause of combat deaths for U.S. service members. GROA is a minimally invasive device that can be used to rapidly stabilize a patient by controlling severe non-compressible abdominal hemorrhage at the point of impact. It is also easily implemented in austere environments, such as battlefields or limited resource settings.

Competitive Advantage

  • Easy to Implement

  • Minimally Invasive

  • Works Alongside Secondary Treatments

Unique Features

  • Easy to Implement

  • Minimally invasive

  • Works alongside secondary treatments

  • Rapidly stabilizes a patient by controlling severe non-compressible abdominal hemorrhage at the point of impact.

  • Allows partial to full mechanical occlusion

Licensed These products have established agreements with companies and/or manufacturers.

Licensing Information
Precision Trauma in 2019

Principal Investigators
Kevin Ward, MD
Hakam Tiba, MD, MS
Jeff Plott, PhD

Intellectual Property
Invention Disclosure # 2019-106
Patent Application Submitted

Solution Sheet
Download Solution Sheet (PDF)

MARKET OPPORTUNITY
Similar to the successful catheter known as REBOA (Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta) which is an invasive device frequently used in hospital settings, The GROA device is capable of achieving high zone II full aortic occlusion and may be able to serve as an effective method of aortic impingement. As opposed to needing a catheter. GROA effectively controls non-compressible abdominal hemorrhage through a minimally-invasive, and easy-to-implement device.

GROA is well-suited for saving lives in limited resource settings, during EMS treatment and transportation, and on the battlefield.

Contact Precision Trauma for more information about investment and partnership opportunities.

Funding History

This work is supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs through the JPC-6 Combat Casualty Care / Defense Medical Research and Development Program under an assistance agreement from the U.S. Army Medical Research Activity, Award No. W81XWH-18-1-0033.

Completed Milestones:

  • Data capture

  • Model testing and training

  • Retrospective Validation at Michigan Medicine and (externally) at Hurley Hospital

  • Live Prospective Validation at Michigan Medicine

  • MVP Version 1.0 software release: Adult and Pediatric models

Funding Organizations

LicensedKate MurphyCritical Care Life Support