For patients diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, the
ZOLL Lifecor LifeVest is a real lifesaver.
The lightweight, strap-on vest is the world's first wearable defibrillator, worn outside the body where it continuously monitors a patient's heartbeat, delivering a shock when a life-threatening heartbeat is detected. Since its development, the vest has been prescribed to more than 17,000 heart patients around the world. Today it's considered a standard of care, a major factor behind ZOLL's steady growth.
Founded by Dr. Stephen Heilman and a team of former Medrad/ Intec employees who invented the world's first implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), ZOLL Medical Corp. acquired the LifeVest technology in 2006. The Pittsburgh operation has 226 employees and has exceeded revenue growth by 50 percent year to year since commercialization. Plans call for hiring in the areas of customer service, information technology, reimbursement specialists and manufacturing.
The LifeVest is most often prescribed for patients following a heart attack, before or after bypass surgery or stent placement as well as those diagnosed with cadiomyopathy or congestive heart failure, says Marshal Linder, president and COO. Patients find they can return home with peace of mind and continue with their lives while undergoing treatment.
"Timely defibrillation is the single most important factor in saving a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) victim's life," adds Linder. "The LifeVest does not require bystander intervention and has a 98 percent first treatment shock success rate for resuscitating patients from SCA. We know that we are saving lives with the LifeVest and that drives us every day."
ZOLL was recognized this year by the Pittsburgh Technology Council as a 2009 Tech 50 Awards finalist.
Writer:
Debra Diamond SmitSource: Marshal Linder, Brian Wallace, ZOLL Lifecor