Wound-Stopping Battlefield Sponge Gun Approved For Civilians

The Food and Drug Administration has approved use of the XSTAT 30 wound dressing device for civilian ERs.

The syringe shaped device has been approved for a year and a half on the battlefield, and shoots little sponges into a bleeding wound. The sponges expand to fill the wound and stops the bleeding for up to four hours. If you need a better visual, think of how a tampon works because it is almost the same.

The device is unfortunately not made to be used in parts of the chest, abdomen, pelvis or tissue above the collarbone. But, the device is useful because up to 40 percent of trauma deaths are caused by bleeding. In addition, you do not have to worry about any of these sponges getting left behind, because they will show up on any x-ray to be removed.

Read more about this device on NBC News. Or watch this: