Distributed Medical Device Manufacturing (DMDM)

 
DMDM is a small non-profit based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. We formed as an offshoot of MADR in order to begin exploring how regulatory compliant aid can be manufactured outside the existing profit driven, hierarchical medical device manufacturing industry. Our mission is to make high quality, FDA compliant CAT style tourniquets based on the GLIA design to ensure our communities have access to life saving supplies in the event of trauma events and supply chain breakdowns.

Manufacturing aid that is trustworthy and reliable is the number one goal of DMDM. We have written an open source quality system that conforms to regulatory requirements while maintaining our philosophy of democratic operation, flexibility and resilience. This quality system is free to use by any organization wishing to undertake similar endeavors. DMDM’s aspiration is to reclaim quality as a system to empower organizing.

Many members of DMDM have strong quality backgrounds developed over years of labor in industry. DMDM also works with organizations driving the democratization of quality. DMDM is an Alliance member of GOSQAS (Global Open Source Quality Assurance System). Our intent is to show the utility and benefits of quality in all aspects of organization. 

 

 
 A tourniquet is a small medical device that prevents hemorrhagic death by constricting blood flow, for a period of time, to an injured extremity (arm or leg). It is used as the final step of a three-part wound care protocol which includes applying pressure to the wound, packing it with gauze, then applying a tourniquet proximal to the wound. 

 
Humanitarian aid workers are regularly traveling to areas in and around Gaza to help anyone that has been affected by the ongoing conflict. Once we manufacture the tourniquets, we will work with them to get the supplies to workers doing emergency medical aid in the area. In the event that we cannot get them to Gaza, we will work with MADR to get them to another area where they are needed.

For more info, check out our website and Instagram.