AED's

A research study published in a recent issue of The New England Journal of Medicine reports that Americans stand a better chance of surviving a heart attack if they have it in a public place, such as a casino or an airport, rather than a hospital.

According to the researchers, if a person has a heart attack at a public place where there are automated external defibrillators (AEDs) readily available, the survival rate is 50 percent. The rate of patients surviving a heart attack in a hospital and eventually being discharged was only 34 percent.

The researchers reported that thousands of lives might be saved every year if hospital equipment were upgraded to include automated external defibrillators in all patient rooms, rather than only in those rooms where heart disease patients are treated.

In nearly a third of all cases of sudden cardiac arrest at a large sample of American hospitals, the staff took two minutes or more to respond, researchers said. The time needed to set up the more sophisticated and powerful defibrillators used in hospitals — as well as to verify whether the problem will respond to the shocks — contributes to the delay, the researchers said. Response times of more than two minutes double the risk of brain damage and death compared to responses within a two-minute window.

Dr. Leslie A. Saxson, chief of cardiology at the University of Southern California, said the research shows automatic external defibrillators should be standard equipment in every hospital room. Similarly, cardiac monitors should be considered for more patients being treated for other conditions, even when those patients have no history of coronary problems, Saxson said. AEDs are low-cost medical equipment, and the benefits far out-weigh the minimal cost.

Philips Electronics continues to increase its presence in the medical equipment market by acquiring Respironics, a major player in the respiratory medical device industry.

Two years ago Philips launched a big restructuring project, Vision 2010, intended to reshape the company from its position as a diverse electronics conglomerate to a company with legs in medical equipment, lighting equipment and consumer gadgetry.

Respironics is a respected manufacturer of respiratory medical devices, including the well-know Tidalwave 715Sp Handheld Monitor. Philips will pay $5.17 billion for the company, which reports annual revenues of $1.2 billion per year.

Philips Electronics, which manufactures the popular Philips HeartStart AED, is already a significant competitor in high-tech medical equipment, such as diagnostic scanners for hospitals, where it competes head-on with industry giants Siemens and General Electric (who owns the popular Datex Ohmenda brand, among others).

Philips Electronics, a leading manufacturer of portable defibrillators, is reorganizing its business to focus on medical equipment products and consumer electronics.  This follows the company’s decision to last year to sell its semi-conductor business.

As part of its commitment to its renewed focus on medical equipment, Philips has bid to take over U.S. medical services company Visicu Inc., and expects to receive approval from both shareholders and regulators. Philips hopes to close the deal in the first quarter of 2008.

With the integration of Visicu, Philips plans to expand the company’s offerings of patient monitors.

As announced in November of 2007, Philips is also in the process of completing the acquisition of US-based medical software manufactuer Emergin, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is a world leader in the manufacturing of portable defibrillators. One of their most popular products, the Philips HeartStart OnSite AED Defibrillator, is the first AED defibrillator available to commercial users without a prescription.