Researchers Announce a phone book-sized surgical kit designed for the world’s most extreme environments

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On Oct. 14, 2025, researchers Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed) announced development of a portable pack that brings the operating room directly to the patient — enabling lifesaving surgery in military, disaster, wilderness and humanitarian care missions. In extreme environments where evacuation isn’t an option and urgent care is needed, a new surgical technology steps in to fill the gap — one that can fit inside of a backpack and costs a fraction of traditional field setups.

The WildOR Kit, developed by Dr. Neil K. Reid and a team of medical engineering students from the Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed), is designed to help medical teams perform life-saving surgeries in harsh, resource-limited environments.

The kit also features the Adjustable Retracting and Tool-holding (ART) system developed by Carson Benner and Avinav Saini, two second-year medical engineering students at Texas A&M EnMed in Houston, enabling enhanced precision and stability of instruments during on-field invasive surgeries.

The kit securely attaches to the patient, deploying a sterile surgical site and variety of tools without the need for an instrument tray or scrub tech. The ART system positions and stabilizes these tools, enabling a solo provider to perform invasive procedures with precision — no assistant required.

While the team is testing the surgical kit both in simulation and operational settings, early feedback has been enthusiastic. The WildOR kit marks a turning point in emergency care. Its rare combination of affordability, portability and potential to improve clinical outcomes is designed to meet the moment — wherever that moment may be.

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Source: Texas A&M University
Credit: Photo: The WildOR Kit and ART system securely attach to the patient, creating a stable platform for deploying surgical tools and accessing the intervention site. Courtesy of Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine.