July 16, 2013 - ZOLL Announces Acquisition of the Assets of LifeBridge Medizintechnik AG
MEDIA CONTACT: |
Diane Egan |
ZOLL ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF THE ASSETS OF LIFEBRIDGE MEDIZINTECHNIK AG
Expands portfolio to include mobile cardio-pulmonary life-support system for emergency use
July 16, 2013—CHELMSFORD, MASS.—ZOLL Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, announced today that it has purchased the assets of LifeBridge® Medizintechnik AG, based in Ampfing, Germany.
LifeBridge Medizintechnik is a leading provider of medical devices for emergency use that provide circulatory support and extracorporeal oxygenation to patients in acute circulatory or respiratory failure. The LifeBridge system is designed to enable the cardiovascular system as well as critical organs to rest, heal and recover by improving blood flow and oxygenation in an emergency setting.
The acquisition of LifeBridge expands ZOLL’s product portfolio to include medical devices for the treatment of patients with severe, acute cardiovascular disorders. The LifeBridge system serves as a powerful method to protect critical organs during acute episodes of cardiac or respiratory failure.
The unique advantage of this portable emergency system is that hemodynamic support can be provided immediately to the patient whenever the crisis occurs. The primary usage of percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass can be initiated in the emergency room, in the ICU or in the catheterization lab by any trained health professional within minutes. The hemodynamic crisis can be reversed quickly, allowing rapid organ protection, which is the key for further therapy success and patient outcomes.
“Every tenth patient who has a heart attack is at risk of cardiogenic shock, which, if left untreated, all too frequently leads to death," said James Palazzolo, President of ZOLL. “The LifeBridge system supports these high-risk patients until they can receive reperfusion therapy in the emergency department, cath lab or undergo heart surgery.”
“The ease of use of the LifeBridge® allows patients to be treated emergently when cardiac surgery is not immediately available,” said Palazzolo. “Due to its built-in safety mechanisms, this is the first time an emergency cardiovascular support system can be operated by all attending physicians without a perfusionist present. Our goal is to extend the use of this innovative technology to other indications.”
The LifeBridge system is CE-certified as an extracorporeal life support system for general medical use.
About ZOLL Medical Corporation
ZOLL Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group company, develops and markets medical devices and software solutions that help advance emergency care and save lives, while increasing clinical and operational efficiencies. With products for defibrillation and monitoring, circulation and CPR feedback, data management, fluid resuscitation, and therapeutic temperature management, ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies that help clinicians, EMS and fire professionals, and lay rescuers treat victims needing resuscitation and critical care. For more information, visit www.zoll.com.
About Asahi Kasei
The Asahi Kasei Group is a diversified group of companies led by holding company Asahi Kasei Corp., with operations in the chemicals and fibers, homes and construction materials, electronics, and health care business sectors. Its health care operations include devices and systems for critical care, dialysis, therapeutic apheresis, transfusion, and manufacture of biotherapeutics, as well as pharmaceuticals, diagnostic reagents, and nutritional products. With more than 25,000 employees around the world, the Asahi Kasei Group serves customers in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/asahi/en/.
Copyright © 2013 ZOLL Medical Corporation. All rights reserved. ZOLL and LifeBridge are registered trademarks of ZOLL Medical Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Asahi Kasei is a registered trademark of Asahi Kasei Corporation. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.