Defibrillators in space
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Medtronic/Physio-Control's Lifepak 1000 automated external defibrillator has become the first AED deployed in space, after being chosen over 17 other models, including those made by Philips, Cardiac Science and Zoll ("1The Gray Sheet" Jan. 27, 2007, p. 13). The defibrillator had to be shipped up to NASA's International Space Station in two different missions, and was fully deployed in July, a Physio-Control spokeswoman said Aug. 14. For its space duties, the unit is equipped with a customized battery, developed by Micro Power Electronics, and a special cover, created by NASA, to protect the device from electromagnetic interference