DEFIBRILLATOR

THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AND CORRECTION OF CRITICAL ARRYTHMIAS IS AN ACCEPTED FACT. HOWEVER, DEFIBRILLATORS ARE STILL BEING SOLD WEIGHING IN THE ORDER OF 20-40 LBS. MAKING THEIR APPLICATION IN THE EMERGENCY ENVIRONMENT DIFFICULT. IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION RECOVERY IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE SPEED OF APPLICATION OF THE DC COUNTERSHOCK (DEFIBRILLATION) AND THAT LOWER ENERGIES CAN BE USED. LOWER ENERGY CONVERSION HAS BEEN SHOWN TO GREATLY INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF PATIENT LONG-TERM SURVIVAL. THERE IS CLEARLY A NEED FOR A POCKETTYPE DEFIBRILLATOR WHICH WOULD FULFILL THESE REQUIREMENTS: (1) SIMPLE TO OPERATE, (2) LONG BATTERY LIFE, (3) STURDY CONSTRUCTION, (4) SELF-TEST CAPABILITY, (5) LIGHTWEIGHT, (6) EXCHANGEABLE BATTERY PACK, (7) MINIATURE VOLTAGE SUPPLY. THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN THIS SYSTEM ARE THE BATTERY AND THE CAPACITOR. THE OTHER COMPONENTS CAN BE DEVELOPED THROUGH IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING STATE-OF-THE-ART ITEMS. THE PRIMARY EMPHASIS, THEREFORE OF THE PHASE I EFFORT WILL BE TO DETERMINE THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A MINIATURIZED CAPACITOR WEIGHING LESS THAN 1 LB. CAPABLE OF DELIVERING A SHOCK UP TO 300 JOULES (STORED) AND A DISPOSABLE, LONG LIFE, HIGH ENERGY, NONNICKLE-CADMIUM RECHARGEABLE BATTERY.