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Heartsine
Technologies
GENERAL AREAS OF CONCERN:
• Batteries: Fair
• PADS: Good
• Water Resistance: Poor
• Financial Stability of Manufacturer: Terrible
• Ease of Use: Good
• Electrode Connections: Fair
• Airway Management: Terrible
• CPR Assistance: Terrible
• Pricing: Good
HeartSine Technologies was founded in 1997 with the
prime goal to develop innovative yet affordable life-saving
technologies for cardiology applications principally
their Samaritan AED. At first glance the Samaritan
AED looks like a viable contender in the AED lineup.
However after researching company operations and financial
capacity, we have cause for concern.
Samaritan AED
Samaritan's BIG Display is Very Cool; but who
knows how to interpret it?
Samaritan's Proprietary Battery
Samaritan's Pads are just as sticky and unmanageable
as the other two piece systems
Based in Belfast Northern Ireland, HeartSine employs
21 people and are the only domestic (UK) manufacturer
of Automated External defibrillators. HeartSine’s
investors include ACT Venture Capital, Crescent Capital
Venture Fund and University Challenge Fund which reportedly
invested a total, of just over a million dollars (US);
not much of a cushion for research and development
nor adequate financial protection in the event of
faulty manufacturing processes.
In fact according to financial reports filed with
the SEC it took 4 years for Cardiac Science to recover
a $260,000 debt owed them by HeartSine; as the financial
condition of HeartSine warranted Cardiac Science to
write off the debt. Imagine a lawsuit in the millions
of dollars for just a single death; HeartSine apparently,
as financed, is ill-equipped to assume the financial
responsibility of manufacturing medical devices.
When testing a LIVE unit on a woman in our office;
the Samaritan indicated "SHOCK ADVISED". Well we all
agreed that this individual is not the most exciting
person we've ever encountered; she was conscious and
alert during the test. This sort of mistake will inevitably
happen in the field and when it does there will be
serious consequences. We also noticed that the heart
rate and rhythm changed as we changed pad locations
on the chest.
Given the apparent lack of financial capital, our
live test results and age of the manufacturer; we
have serious reservations with the Samaritan AED.
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