Medtronic defibrillator selected by Nasa

Medtronic has announced that the Lifepak 1000 defibrillator from its Physio-Control subsidiary has been chosen by Nasa to be the first automated external defibrillator in space.

The product was deployed in the International Space Station (ISS) last month.

While the ISS has previously deployed manual defibrillators, Nasa has opted to upgrade to an automatic system as it requires less maintenance and training.

An automatically external defibrillator interprets a patient’s heart rhythm and delivers a defibrillation shock if necessary.

Prior to being chosen, medical operations staff at Nasa evaluated the use of the Lifepak 100 in zero gravity conditions on a Nasa DC-9 test aircraft.

The space association conducted extensive evaluations of 18 automatic external defibrillators before coming to a decision on the product it wished to deploy.

Brian Webster, president of Physio-Control, said: “We are honoured NASA selected the LIFEPAK 1000 defibrillator to protect the lives of crew members onboard the ISS.”

He added the system is currently used by thousands of emergency responders worldwide and has been designed for use in complicated situations and harsh environments.

In April 2008, a client of law firm Woods and Woods claimed a defective wire in Medtronic’s Sprint Fidelis heart defibrillator resulted in unnecessary and painful shocks to her heart which led to hospitalisation.