Redmond-based Physio-Control, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medtronic, Inc., (NYSE: MDT), today announced the launch of Version 4.1 of its LIFENET System.

LIFENET System 4.1 is a Web-based platform designed to share patient data between Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responders and hospital care teams. The latest release includes LIFENET Adapter, an interface between the LIFENET System and various manufacturers’ 12-lead management systems. Hospitals now have the ability to standardize the management of chest pain cases regardless of the monitoring equipment used by EMS in the field. This helps hospital teams prepare for incoming patients and reduces the amount of time that patients wait for care.

The LIFENET System helps communities design programs to treat ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the type of heart attack that reduces or blocks circulation of blood to the heart and can result in death or serious disability for the patient. LIFENET is designed to link time-critical transmission and alerts of a potential STEMI patient’s 12-lead ECG data from EMS to the awaiting hospital care team. While the patient is in transit, the hospital staff can review the patient’s baseline ECG report and status updates, determine where to route the patient, and whether to activate a catheterization laboratory.

The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that close to 400,000 people in the United States experience STEMI every year. Studies show that when Door-to-Balloon (D2B) time is 90 minutes or less, patient outcomes significantly improve, and hospital stays are shorter (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2009). The use of pre-hospital 12-lead ECGs plays a key part in reducing D2B times (JACC, 2009). A recent update to guidelines from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the AHA emphasize the need for developing STEMI systems of care to increase the number of patients with timely access to appropriate treatment for STEMI (ACC/AHA Guidelines for the Management of Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, 2009).

“The LIFENET System was developed with the same focus and commitment to quality and innovation found in all our lifesaving devices,” said Brian Webster, president of Physio-Control. “Our LIFENET System provides easy to use, reliable tools that help EMS and hospital care teams to accelerate their response, reduce time to treatment and potentially improve outcomes for their patients.”

LIFENET System 4.1 operates on a secure, Web-based platform and through subscription service so hospitals need not make a capital investment to benefit from this new technology.

Physio-Control pioneered defibrillation technology over 55 years ago. The company is the world’s leading provider of external defibrillation and monitoring technology for the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest and other cardiorespiratory emergencies. To find out more about Physio-Control, go to www.physio-control.com or call 1-800-442-1142. To learn more about the LIFENET System, go to www.CheckOutTheFuture.com/LIFENET.