Defibrillation

Some cardiac arrest patients are difficult to defibrillate and will need more than 200 joules (J). Clinical data strongly points to an association between higher biphasic shock energy and higher conversion rates. This is why Stryker offers a full range of escalating energy up to 360J.

What’s really in a defibrillation shock?

The therapeutic defibrillation dose is a defined set of electrical characteristics over a defined time, measured as energy in joules (J). This total output involves voltage (electromotive push), current (flow of electricity) and duration (delivery time). Each characteristic plays an important and different role in successful defibrillation.

Maximize conversion rates with the 360J BTE waveform

LIFEPAK defibrillators use the biphasic truncated exponential (BTE) waveform and offer the most commercially available defibrillation energy in the industry. Clinical data shows for cardiac arrest patients who need multiple shocks, 360 joules improves conversion rates.

Low-energy defibrillators limited to 200J that use rectilinear biphasic waveforms (RBW) rely only on the level of current (A), which is only one electrical characteristic of a shock. No single characteristic of any biphasic shock waveform determines conversion rate.

Biphasic measurements testing at 90 ohms with the Physio-Control LIFEPAK 15 monitor/defibrillator, Zoll X-Series® monitor/defibrillator. Average human impedance range is approximately 70-80ohms.

Clinical overview

LIFEPAK monitor/
defibrillators and AEDs use 360J biphasic technology

Peer-reviewed, published clinical studies point to a strong association between higher conversion rates and higher biphasic defibrillation energy up to 360 joules. The Stryker full energy biphasic waveform has been evaluated in nearly twice as many cardiac arrest patients as all other device manufacturers combined.

read the clinical overview