Adult Volunteers without Prior CPR Training Perform Quality CPR when Guided by Cardiac Science Device, Results Presented at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2007
BOTHELL, WA – Cardiac Science Corporation, a global leader in advanced cardiac monitoring and defibrillation products, today highlighted results from a study which showed that adult volunteers with no prior cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training were able to deliver CPR of a quality often similar to trained professionals when using an automated external defibrillator (AED) that delivers appropriate, real-time CPR voice prompts.
The study was conducted by Benjamin S. Abella, MD, MPhil, Associate Director, Center for Resuscitation, University of Pennsylvania; Salem Kim, BA, Research Coordinator; Cheryl L. Shea, BSN, RAC, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs/Quality Assurance, Cardiac Science; and Lance B. Becker, MD FAHA, Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. The study was presented in a poster session at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2007 in Orlando, FL.
“This investigation demonstrates that a layperson can perform CPR with a quality often similar to trained providers if supplied with the appropriate real-time prompts,” said Dr. Abella. “Recent investigations have shown that quality CPR before defibrillation can improve the success of the shock from the AED. It has been shown that even trained professional providers can benefit from audiovisual prompts and real-time feedback. Based on our results, we believe that it is very important that an AED should be designed to provide clear, easy to follow instructions on how to perform quality CPR.”
The study was based on a total of 63 adults who were assessed on their use of Cardiac Science’s Powerheart® AED on a CPR-recording manikin. The volunteers, who had no prior CPR training, relied only on the chest compression voice instructions and metronome prompts in the Cardiac Science device to deliver CPR. Volunteers were prompted for five cycles of 30 chest compressions between defibrillation attempts. The presentation’s key points include:
The mean chest compression rate was 103±12. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a compression rate of 100 compressions per minute.
There was minimal decay in the rate of chest compressions over five cycles, with a mean rate of 101±19 on the first cycle and 104±10 on the fifth cycle.
All volunteers were able to operate the AED and complete five cycles of chest compressions.
The mean chest compression depth was 37±14 mm as measured in the study. The AHA recommends a depth of 38mm to 50 mm.
“We designed the Powerheart AED with ease of use, safety and reliability in mind so that any caregiver could deliver its lifesaving therapy,” said Ms. Shea. “We believe that in the chaos of an emergency situation, even someone trained in CPR can benefit from clear, easy to follow commands. We were very pleased to observe that adults with no previous CPR training were able to deliver CPR with chest compression rate and depth consistent with AHA guidelines after listening to the Powerheart AED voice prompts. The fact that the performance of CPR was in line with AHA guidelines with untrained users, without having to use specific CPR measurement devices or mechanical CPR systems, is a testament to the thought that went into the design of the product to make it easy to use during a sudden cardiac arrest. The innovative design of the Powerheart AED delivers peace of mind to the caregiver in an often stressful situation.”
About Cardiac Science Corporation
Cardiac Science is truly at the heart of saving lives. The Company develops, manufactures, and markets a family of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic cardiology devices and systems, including AEDs, electrocardiographs, stress test systems, Holter monitoring systems, hospital defibrillators, cardiac rehabilitation telemetry systems, patient monitor -- defibrillators and cardiology data management systems. Cardiac Science also sells a variety of related products and consumables, and provides a comprehensive portfolio of training, maintenance and support services. The Company is the successor to various entities that have owned and operated cardiology-related businesses that sold products under the trusted brand names Burdick®, Powerheart®, and Quinton®. Cardiac Science is headquartered in Bothell, WA, and also has operations in Lake Forest, California; Deerfield, Wisconsin; Shanghai, China and Manchester, United Kingdom.
Frost & Sullivan, the global growth consulting company, has awarded Cardiac Science its 2007 award for Global Excellence in ECG Monitoring, recognizing Cardiac Science’s superior leadership and vision to provide superior healthcare solutions in the cardiac monitoring market.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those which infer that Cardiac Science Corporation’s future revenue and profits may grow as a result of sales of defibrillation products. These statements and their underlying assumptions involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. These are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” anticipate,” variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. Actual results may vary significantly from the results expressed or implied in such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such varying results and other risks are more fully described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Cardiac Science Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2006. Cardiac Science Corporation undertakes no duty or obligation to update the information provided herein.