Cardiac Science to Acquire Survivalink

In a move designed to accelerate the adoption of its core detection and defibrillation technology, Cardiac Science, Inc. (Irvine, CA, USA) has agreed to acquire Survivalink Corp. (Minneapolis, MN, USA) for US$71 million in cash and stock. Survivalink is a leading provider of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The company's sales in 2000 were $17.1 million.

AEDs provide a life-saving defibrillation shock that restores normal heart rhythm in a cardiac arrest victim and are commonly used by emergency first responders such as firefighters, police, and emergency medical teams. Cardiac Science develops, manufactures, and markets external cardiac defibrillator devices and software that monitors and automatically treats cardiac arrest patients.

Cardiac Science's first product, Powerheart, is used in hospitals, where it monitors patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, instantly detects the onset of a life-threatening heart rhythm, and when appropriate delivers defibrillation shocks within seconds and without human intervention to re-establish the heart's normal rhythm. The company intends to integrate its proprietary monitoring and automatic detection technology into Survivalink's FirstSave AED. "The Survivalink acquisition is a key component in our strategy to position Cardiac Science as a significant player in the external defibrillation business and to extend our reach beyond the hospital market,” noted Raymond W. Cohen, president and CEO.



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