Physio-Control AEDs

Physio-Control LIFEPAK defibrillators have been on the front lines of emergency medical services, fire, and police departments for years. Physio-Control was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Redmond, WA. The company is considered a pioneer in the defibrillator industry, with deep roots in research and innovation. Ten years after releasing the first DC defibrillator prototype, Physio-Control introduced the first-ever portable defibrillator/monitor. It’s long been a market leader and is widely trusted by healthcare professionals and first responders.

The CR Plus AED is a direct successor to the popular, now-discontinued Medtronic/Physio-Control LIFEPAK 500, which is one of the most widely deployed devices in EMS vehicles. LIFEPAK CR Plus AED units have electrode pads with a “rip-cord,” which allows rescuers to tear open electrodes easily for fast placement. With an 8-year warranty, these defibrillator units are built to last and are available as semi-automatic or fully-automatic models.

For affordability, the LIFEPAK EXPRESS is an alternative to the CR Plus. Both the CR Plus and the LIFEPAK EXPRESS AEDs weigh just under 5 pounds and are portable and easy to carry. The LIFEPAK EXPRESS is available in semi-automatic mode and features the ADAPTIV biphasic escalating shock treatment sequence and an enabled motion-detection feature for reliable patient analysis.

Professional responders have depended on LIFEPAK 1000 AEDs for years. The LIFEPAK 1000 features ECG monitoring, manual override capability, and an upgradeable platform, all in an extremely durable and fairly compact unit.

After being bought by Medtronic in 1998, Physio-Control was sold to Bain Capital as an independent, privately held company in 2011. From then until 2016, Physio-Control invested heavily in product innovation and developed other emergency-related technologies and products. In 2016, Stryker, a private equity firm, acquired Physio-Control International Inc. 

Of Physio-Control’s various owners, the Medtronic association has stuck. Many people still think of both Medtronic and Physio-Control when the flagship LIFEPAK AED line comes to mind. Physio-Control continues to be a leading manufacturer and distributor of emergency defibrillation devices and automated CPR equipment.