Use of unmanned aerial vehicles for medical product transport.
Advances in technology and decreasing costs have led to an increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by the military and civilian sectors. The use of UAVs in commerce is restricted by US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, but the FAA is drafting new regulations that are expected to expand commercial applications. Currently, the transportation of medical goods in times of critical need is limited to wheeled motor vehicles and manned aircraft, options that can be costly and slow. This article explores the demand for, feasibility of, and risks associated with the use of UAVs to deliver medical products, including blood derivatives and pharmaceuticals, to hospitals, mass casualty scenes, and offshore vessels in times of critical demand.
Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Cornelius A
CA
Thiels
Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Johnathon M
JM
Aho
Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Scott P
SP
Zietlow
Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address: jenkins.donald@mayo.edu.
Donald H
DH
Jenkins
D000401:Aircraft; D001359:Aviation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001769:Blood; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012306:Risk; D012767:Ships; D014186:Transportation
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations