Zoll, Myant to develop tech for LifeVest defibrillator
December 01, 2017 - United States Of America
Zoll Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group company that manufactures medical devices and related software solutions, and Myant, an advanced manufacturing company that is pioneering use of technology and soft electronics into textiles, have started a multi-year partnership to jointly develop technologies for the ZollLifeVest wearable defibrillator.
The LifeVest is worn by patients at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), providing protection during their changing condition and while permanent SCD risk has not been established.
“This collaboration with Myant aligns with Zoll's longstanding commitment to research and development with the goal of improving patient outcomes,” commented Jason T Whiting, president of Zoll LifeVest. “We are excited to combine efforts with Myant and leverage their strong research and development capabilities, advanced manufacturing, and broad research capabilities from its Centres for Excellence in Canada and the US.”
“We are very proud of this exclusive agreement between Myant and Zoll because it represents a collaboration between two companies taking a multidisciplinary approach to advance technologies for future generations of wearable defibrillators,” commented Tony Chahine, CEO and founder of Myant. “We are blending the benefits of advancements in materials science, state-of-the art machines, yarn with nanotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. It is an honour to work with Zoll, an extremely respected company and provider of FDA-approved, lifesaving medical devices.”
The LifeVest was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001. Since that time, the LifeVest has been worn by hundreds of thousands of patients globally and has saved thousands of patients’ lives. Recommended use of the wearable defibrillator is included in the 2017 American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC)/Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Guideline for Management of Patients with Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death.
The LifeVest is used for a wide range of patient conditions or situations, including following a myocardial infarction, before or after coronary revascularisation, and for those with cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure that places them at particular risk. The LifeVest allows patients to return to their common activities of daily living, while having the peace of mind that they are protected from SCD. The LifeVest continuously monitors the patient’s heart and, if a life-threatening heart rhythm is detected, the device delivers a treatment shock to restore normal heart rhythm.
Myant’s approach to product innovation starts from molecule to garment, textile to comfort. The company focuses on advancing human connectedness to the Internet of Things. Myant is establishing the world's leading innovation hub for designing, developing, and producing connected textile-based products. It will lead the creation of Canadian and American university-affiliated textile technology Centres for Excellence to connect industry to innovation. These centres will provide state-of-the-art, end-to-end production facilities; offer access to machines, tools, and expertise; develop new curriculum and gold standards; and facilitate the making of ideas to promote true transformational change. (SV)