The Defibrillator That Anyone Can Use
March 15, 1990
(The Wall Street Journal)
By Bob Tedeschi
A new device that can shock a heart back to life is being marketed to the public for the first time. The HeartStarter 3000, made by Universal Meditech of Boulder, Colo., is a portable defibrillator that can be used by anyone, even with no medical training.
The device is about the size of a briefcase and weighs about 20 pounds. It has voice prompts that guide the user through the process of using it. The HeartStarter 3000 is designed to be used in the event of a cardiac arrest, which is when the heart stops beating. If a person goes into cardiac arrest, they have only minutes to live. The HeartStarter 3000 can deliver a shock to the heart that can restart it.
The HeartStarter 3000 is the first defibrillator to be approved by the FDA for use by laypeople. The device is expected to save thousands of lives each year.
"This is a major breakthrough," says Dr. Michael Kwok, CEO of Universal Meditech. "It means that anyone can now save a life."
The HeartStarter 3000 is available for purchase online and at select retailers. The device costs $1,500.
The company is also working on a smaller, more portable version of the HeartStarter 3000 that could be carried in a purse or backpack.
The introduction of the HeartStarter 3000 is a major step forward in the fight against sudden cardiac death. The device gives people the power to save lives, even if they don't have any medical training.