For more than 50 years Physio-Control, Inc., maker of renowned LIFEPAK® defibrillators, has been developing technologies and designing devices that are legendary among first response professionals, clinical care providers and citizens everywhere. Our defibrillators set the standard upon which an entire industry was built. From the beginning, our product development was customer-driven. It still is.
We develop technologies and design devices according to the unique needs of our customers. Rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, Physio-Control products are designed for you, to work like you work. That's why our offerings include a full range of services and complementary products that form an emergency response system. Data management software, round-the-clock technical service, training, medical assistance, leasing programs and liability protection all work in partnership to help you perform the most critical task — saving a life. Paramedics, EMTs and firefighters trust our rugged and ultra-portable professional-grade tools. Clinical care providers choose our products to help them optimize patient care and improve operational effectiveness. Governments and employers partner with us to enhance public health and safety through intuitive, accessible, and easy-to-use lifesaving products.
With over 650,000 LIFEPAK® external defibrillators in operation worldwide, Physio-Control is the global leader in external defibrillation. Physio-Control currently holds more than 70 percent of the domestic emergency medical services (out-of-hospital) market and nearly 50 percent of the domestic in-hospital market.
A Legacy of Firsts
Dr. K. William Edmark, a cardiovascular surgeon determined to reduce the number of sudden deaths during cardiac surgery, founded Physio-Control Corporation in 1955. His research, showing that a very brief electrical current could correct an abnormal heart rhythm, led to the development of the first commercial defibrillator. Building on Dr. Edmark's discovery, Physio-Control dramatically changed the face of emergency medical care.
In 1972, Physio-Control introduced the LIFEPAK® 2 defibrillator/monitor, designed for use in hospitals as well as the nation's new emergency vehicle program. This defibrillator/monitor was the first portable defibrillator to allow transmission of the patient's ECG (electrocardiogram) signals by telephone.
In 1998, Physio-Control joined forces with Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT). Headquartered in Minneapolis, Medtronic is the world's leading medical technology company, pioneering device-based therapies that alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. The combined company, with deep roots in the treatment of heart disease, is inspired by a common goal. In 2004, the Physio-Control name was dissolved and the business unit became Medtronic Emergency Response Systems, which reverted back to Physio-Control in December, 2006, when Medtronic announced its intent to spin off Physio-Control as a separate company.
Medtronic, Inc. based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: MDT). For further information call Medtronic Investor Relations at 763-514-3035.
There is no separately-traded stock for Physio-Control.
Medtronic, Inc. Web Site (www.medtronic.com)
Our Mission
We make lifesaving tools for lifesaving teams... unique medical solutions of the highest quality, which predict or urgently intervene in life-threatening cardiorespiratory events.
Our Vision
"We envision a society in which no person dies suddenly as a result of a cardiorespiratory event."