AI Medics: DoD-Funded Tech Aims to Revolutionize Emergency Oxygen

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – December 01, 2025 – In the chaotic first minutes of a medical emergency, a paramedic’s attention is split a dozen ways. Amid the blare of sirens and the urgency of stabilizing a patient, managing something as fundamental as oxygen flow is a constant, manual task that demands precision under immense pressure. Too little oxygen can lead to irreversible organ damage; too much can cause its own set of toxic effects. Now, a groundbreaking initiative aims to automate this critical process, freeing up medics to focus on other life-saving interventions.

Danish digital health company O2matic ApS has announced that its autonomous oxygen therapy system will be the focus of a major U.S.-based study funded by the Department of Defense (DoD). The research, named the AURORA Project, will be led by the University of Colorado (CU) Anschutz School of Medicine. This collaboration represents a significant step toward integrating artificial intelligence into prehospital care, with the potential to transform outcomes for both soldiers on the battlefield and civilians in crisis.

From Battlefield to Main Street

The AURORA Project, short for Autonomous Unmanned Resuscitation and Oxygen Research for Austere operations, is a direct reflection of the DoD's strategy to invest in technologies that can operate effectively in extreme conditions. Funded by the Defense Health Agency through a $4.7 million award to the CU Center for COMBAT Research, the initiative seeks to validate a system that can think for itself, ensuring patients receive the perfect amount of oxygen at all times.

This is a classic example of “dual-use” innovation, where technology developed for the harsh realities of military conflict finds powerful applications in civilian life. The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) has long championed a Soldier-centered design mindset, developing solutions for casualty extraction, remote supply delivery, and now, autonomous patient care. The goal is to reduce the cognitive burden on medics, who are often forced to make complex decisions with limited resources and support.

In a prolonged evacuation from a remote combat zone, conserving a finite oxygen supply is paramount. Likewise, for a rural ambulance service facing a long transport to the nearest trauma center, every liter of oxygen counts. The AURORA Project will directly assess O2matic's ability to conserve these scarce resources while improving survival outcomes.

“This project represents a critical step toward transforming emergency care in high-stress environments,” said Dr. Adit Ginde, who leads the project as Professor and Vice Chair for Emergency Medicine at CU Anschutz. “We are excited to build on the SAVE-O2 AI foundation and evaluate O2matic’s autonomous oxygen titration technology in real-world prehospital scenarios.”

The Automated Medic: A New Standard of Care

At the heart of the project is O2matic’s proprietary technology, a closed-loop system often referred to as an “oxygen robot.” The device connects to a standard pulse oximeter, which continuously monitors a patient’s blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). An advanced algorithm processes this data every second, automatically adjusting the oxygen flow from a tank or concentrator to keep the patient’s SpO2 level within a precise, doctor-prescribed range.

This stands in stark contrast to the current standard of care. Today, paramedics must manually check a patient's SpO2 and then adjust the dial on an oxygen tank. In a moving ambulance or a noisy helicopter, this process is prone to human error and can lead to periods of hypoxemia (too little oxygen) or hyperoxemia (too much oxygen), both of which are associated with worse patient outcomes.

The scientific groundwork for this technological leap was laid by the precursor SAVE-O2 trial, also led by Dr. Ginde’s team at CU Anschutz. That large-scale study, which involved nearly 12,000 trauma patients, demonstrated that manually targeting a normal oxygen range (normoxemia) significantly reduced mortality, shortened hospital stays, and decreased the overall need for supplemental oxygen. The trial's success proved the clinical principle; the AURORA Project now aims to prove that an AI can execute that principle more reliably and efficiently than a human can, especially under duress.

The O2matic system effectively automates this best practice, ensuring the patient is perfectly oxygenated without requiring constant human oversight. This shift from manual intervention to automated, data-driven therapy could represent one of the most significant advances in prehospital respiratory management in decades.

A Rigorous Path from Lab to Life-Saving

For O2matic, the AURORA Project is more than just a research collaboration; it is a crucial pathway toward widespread adoption. While its devices already carry the CE Mark in Europe and have advanced through the FDA's Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) process in the U.S., this high-profile, DoD-funded trial will generate the pivotal real-world data needed to support full regulatory approval and build confidence among healthcare providers.

“We are proud to continue our collaboration with the CU Center for COMBAT Research,” said Marie-Louise Little, CEO of O2matic. “The AURORA Project reflects our shared commitment to advancing oxygen therapy in austere and resource-limited settings.”

The study is designed to be exceptionally thorough. It will begin with a two-year phase of development, simulation, and training involving a team of collaborators that includes EMS faculty at CU Anschutz, the U.S. Air Force, and The Geneva Foundation. This will be followed by a one-year clinical trial where the technology is deployed in ambulances and medical helicopters to treat real adult patients during emergency responses and transports.

The market for advanced respiratory solutions is growing, with other companies also developing more efficient oxygen systems. However, O2matic's focus on AI-driven automation, combined with the robust validation provided by a DoD-backed trial in both military and civilian prehospital settings, positions it as a formidable leader in this emerging field.

If successful, the implications are immense. The technology could become a standard feature in every ambulance, emergency helicopter, and field hospital, ensuring every critically ill or injured patient receives optimal respiratory support from the first moments of care. This collaboration between military, academia, and private industry is forging a future where technology doesn't replace medics but empowers them, creating a new and more resilient standard of care for people in their most vulnerable moments.