Positively Shocking News! The Worlds' First Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator

Main Category: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Also Included In: Heart Disease;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 18 Mar 2009 - 7:00 PDT

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A Cheshire based medical company Dot Medical, is the only UK Company to offer a unique life saving wearable 'vest' that monitors, detects and shocks people having a heart attack. The vest is worn next to the skin in much the same way as an ordinary vest - but this one can save your life!

The Lifevest can be worn by people who are at risk of having a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), who are recovering from a heart attack or who are on waiting lists for lifesaving heart surgery.

The Lifevest also helps to improve patients' quality of life when they are out and about in everyday life, as they can be secure in the knowledge that their hearts are being 'watched over' all the time. This makes it hugely reassuring for both patient's families and medical staff.

For people who previously had to stay in hospital for weeks at a time while waiting for a heart operation, wearing the Lifevest now means that instead, they may be able to return to the comfort of their home and family until they are ready for surgery.

In fact the Lifevest is so effective that to date it has a 98% first shock success rate for treating patients for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Made by US Company Zoll/Lifecor, the Lifevest has been worn by over 12,000 patients and is so successful that it is now listed alongside implantable defibrillators in guidelines for prevention of sudden cardiac death(1).

Dr Ian Rankin, Managing Director of Dot Medical who provides the LifeVest in the UK said:

'The Lifevest can literally save lives. It allows patients who might otherwise have to stay in hospital, to go home and resume their lives, knowing that they are being carefully monitored. The Lifevest is an excellent alternative or temporary therapy, for people waiting for certain heart operations or who are at risk of a heart attack.'

(1) ACC/AHA/ESC Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Ventricular Arrhythmias and Prevention of sudden cardiac death (http://www.escardio.org/guidelines-surveys/esc-guidelines/Gu...) pg 769, section 6.5.3

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