In 2001, with funding from the U.S. Army and access to research by Dr. Kenton Gregory, Dr. Bill Wiesmann, the Oregon Medical Laser Center and Providence Health System, HemCon Medical Technologies was established.

The company’s original product, the HemCon® Bandage, was developed to address severe arterial bleeding, the leading cause of battlefield mortality. Its creation represents tremendous innovation for hemostaisis and technological advancement over the traditional gauze bandage and tourniquet – a care method used by Army medics since the Civil War. In 2003, after receiving FDA approval in a near-record 48 hours, the HemCon Bandage was deployed to the battlefield where it is now carried by every member of the U.S. Army serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Building on the success of its original creation, HemCon is now a world leader in advanced chitosan research and development, and continues to expand the application of its use. Today, HemCon develops, manufactures and markets innovative technologies to control bleeding and infection resulting from trauma or surgery. HemCon products are designed for use by military and civilian first responders as well as medical professionals in hospital, dental, and clinical settings where rapid control of bleeding is critical. The company also expanded the use of its chitosan technology to over-the-counter applications.

HemCon’s commitment to innovation has earned numerous accolades, including Frost and Sullivan’s 2006 Technology Innovation of the Year award, a Best of What’s New Award by Popular Science and a 2007 Tibbetts Award from the Small Business Technology Council. In 2007, HemCon was named to Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500, Entrepreneur magazine’s Hot 500 and Inc. magazine’s list of America’s 500 fastest-growing private companies.

HemCon is ISO13485 certified.