In a ceremony at the National Nuclear Security Administration's Y-12 National Security Complex, BWXT Y-12 has unveiled a significant new technology for the future treatment of wounded soldiers.

The Future Medical Shelter System is a highly mobile two-table operating room that can be set up virtually anywhere and perform trauma surgery in a matter of minutes. Duane Bias is the project manager, and Lee Bzorgi is the lead engineer.

"The FMSS can literally go from the back of a truck to ?ready to receive patients? in about 30 minutes," Bias said.

"Two key features make rapid set up possible. First, the surgical suite unfolds in a single uniform movement using a unique system that resulted in two patents for Bzorgi, a mechanical engineer. This allows the unit to transform from an ISO (International Standards Organization) container that is 8 feet high by 8 feet wide by 20 feet long, into a surgical suite that is approximately 20 feet by 20 feet in some two minutes.

"Second, the unit carries all surgical equipment, tables, lights and supplies onboard in movable cabinets that may be positioned as required," Bias said.

Another key feature is mobility. "FMSS can be moved easily by truck, rail, ship, cargo aircraft or helicopter. Additional features include some protection against small arms fire and protection against nuclear, biological or chemical contamination. It also can be attached to other existing shelter units in the Army's inventory to provide facilities that may be sized to meet any mission requirements," Bzorgi said.

Congressman Zach Wamp, who represents Tennessee?s third district, said, ?This technology will save American lives. If we ask our soldiers to go and fight, and they get wounded, we don?t want them to wait for treatment. The FMSS will help them get life-saving treatment as soon as possible.? Congressman Wamp has been a long-time champion of this innovative battlefield technology.

While currently designed as a surgical suite, FMSS has enormous potential for other uses.  "The reality is that we could turn the surgical suite it into anything from a command and control center to a logistics or operations center with few modifications.  So, utility to all facets of the services, or to Guard and Reserve units is significant, and the potential use for homeland defense response activities is huge," Bias said.

FMSS is a project for the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick, Maryland. It is a $10 million project with approximately $7 million for Y-12?s portion of the project, Bias said.

The prototype FMSS was designed and built through Y-12's National Security Programs.  This program performs work for government agencies other than the Department of Energy.

BWXT Y-12 is the designer and fabricator of the FMSS. Mobile Medical International Corporation of Saint Johnsbury, Vermont; Duval Designs of Rockland, Maine; Interstate Mechanical of Knoxville, Tennessee; and the U.S. Army's Soldier Biological and Chemical Command, of Natick Massachusetts, were contracted to support the project.

BWXT Y-12, a limited liability enterprise of BWX Technologies Inc. and Bechtel National Inc., operates the Y-12 National Security Complex for the National Nuclear Security Administration.