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| |  New, Low-Cost AED Improves First Responder Capability REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 6, 1996 -- Physio-Control Corporation (Nasdaq: PHYS) has introduced a new, low-cost, automated external defibrillator (AED) designed for use against sudden cardiac arrest by first responders. The United States Food and Drug Administration granted approval today for the LIFEPAK(R) 500 AED. The new unit is extremely simple to operate, weighs only seven pounds and is virtually maintenance free. Physio-Control, a pioneer in defibrillation technology and the world leader in defibrillator sales, developed the new AED as a tool for those most likely to be first on the scene of cardiac arrests. "At first, the primary users will be emergency medical technicians and firefighters," said Andy Dunn, group marketing manager for new products at Physio-Control. "Soon, however, police officers, security guards, lifeguards, airline personnel and others who now provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation to cardiac arrest victims will have this device and the training to administer defibrillation therapy." Designed for infrequent users, the LIFEPAK 500 AED is built to withstand rigorous field conditions like those where its predecessors, more than 100,000 LIFEPAK units, have performed. This fourth generation AED from Physio-Control is the outcome of more than a decade of AED development, manufacturing and feedback from clinical and lay personnel. The device employs an industry-standard Edmark waveform that achieves energy levels meeting current medical community standards and those specified by American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. A field-proven algorithm provides ECG analysis to determine whether a defibrillation shock is advised. The 500's data management system functions like the black box on an aircraft, recording audio at the scene, readings from the device, and the patient's ECG for subsequent review by medical personnel. Information stored in the device may be transmitted over phone lines using standard modems, allowing a central medical control center to support large numbers of responders. Physio-Control Windows(TM) based applications, QUIKVIEW(TM) 500, DATA TRANSFER(TM) 500 and CODE-STAT(TM) data management software, facilitate medical review of patient information. Electrode compatibility with other LIFEPAK products allows patients to be smoothly handed on to paramedics, the emergency department, and finally, intensive care. Other Features Include: * QUIK-COMBO(TM) electrodes with REDI-PAK(TM) preconnect system save valuable time on scene, and are compatible with other LIFEPAK defibrillators * Simple three-button operation * Clear, concise voice prompting for defibrillation and CPR * LCD for text messages, shock count and real-time clock * A five-year, 300-shock, non-rechargeable lithium battery or rechargeable lead acid battery * Automatic self-testing to save time and improve testing consistency * Compatibility with CODE-STAT data management to allow integrated analysis of patient care through each step in tiered response systems More than 350,000 people die each year from sudden cardiac arrest in the United States. Early defibrillation is the only effective treatment for ventricular fibrillation, the primary cause of sudden cardiac death. Increasing the availability of this therapy and thereby shortening the time to treatment offers good potential for improving outcomes. The first responder concept is actively embraced by the AHA and other organizations committed to reducing the number of deaths from sudden cardiac arrest. In the United States, Physio-Control will distribute and support the new AED through its extensive direct sales and service network of 182 representatives. In Europe, Physio-Control serves both hospital and out-of-hospital users through direct sales and service. The 500 has received authorization for the CE Mark that allows the product to be shipped into the European Union. In Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, exclusive distribution partners serve in more than 70 countries. Physio-Control pioneered defibrillation technology more than 30 years ago. Today the company, based near Seattle, Washington, is the recognized leader in the manufacture, sale and service of defibrillator monitor/pacemakers and other medical instruments. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been saved by use of its products, by field emergency medical personnel and the staffs of eight out of 10 US hospitals.
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