Lifepak

Key takeaways

Lifepak belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Lifepak to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Lifepak from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Lifepak (stylized LIFEPAK) is a series of vital signs monitors and external cardiac defibrillators produced by medical technology company Physio-Control. Lifepak defibrillators are manufactured and distributed from the company headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

History Physio-Control publicly demonstrated its first Lifepak branded defibrillator, Lifepak 33, in November 1968 and began commercial sale of the unit the next year in 1969. The Lifepak 33 was the lightest defibrillator available at launch, weighing 34 pounds. The defibrillator was referred to by media as a "90-day wonder" due to the entirety of its development occurring within a 90-day period. Despite being the companies first "LIFEPAK" branded defibrillator, it was named the Lifepak 33 due to the companies target weight of 33 pounds for the defibrillator. In 1971, the Lifepak 911 was released with 12-lead ECG monitoring capability, with the Lifepak 2 being released the following year. The Lifepak 2 was designed specifically for rapid-response vehicles in emergency services, and was the first to allow transmission of ECGs via telephone to hospitals for prehospital assessment by cardiologists. In 1973, the Lifepak 3 was released with a "non-fade" display and the ability to "freeze" the cardioscope. The Lifepak 1 was released the same year and was marketed as a more basic, but more compact model, lacking a cardiograph for ECG monitoring. In 1974, the Lifepak 4 was released with an integrated ECG recorder, and was followed by the Physio 260 (for home use) and Physio 1440 cardiac care system defibrillators were released to the public. In 1976, the Lifepak 5 was released weighing only 5 pounds and 19 ounces, with a modified Lifepak 5 accompanying the 65-member American Medical Expedition to Mount Everest in 1981 and the China-Everest Expedition in 1982. The Lifepak 6 featured a modular design with removable paddles holder and ECG printer, the Lifepak 8 featured the ability to perform transchest external pacing, and the Lifepak 100 and 200 automatic advisor defibrillators were released with an Incorporated Shock Advisory System able to recognise shockable arrhythmias. in 1989, the Lifepak 9 and 10 both integrated a "Code Summary" record for documentation, featuring the ability to record times medication was administered, when shocks were delivered and how many shocks were delivered. In 1994, the Lifepak 11 was released, which set standards in prehospital 12-lead acquisition and transmission. In 1997, the Lifepak 500 was released as a public access defibrillator, and brought AEDs to the mainstream public. The following year, the Lifepak 12 was released, with improved monitoring and diagnostic capabilities, as well as a standardised button layout. Some ambulance services still use the Lifepak 12 due to its reliability and advanced capabilities. In 1999, biphasic defibrillation waveforms were made available for the Lifepak 12 and 500 defibrillators and the 'ADAPTIV' biphasic waveform would become the standard waveform used in future models. In 2002, the Lifepak 20 defibrillator/monitor was introduced to replace the 9 in the hospital market, while the Lifepak CR Plus was introduced for the public market. In 2006, the Lifepak 1000 was introduced to replace the Lifepak 500 in the professional AED market. In 2008, the Lifepak 15 was introduced to replace the Lifepak 12 in the prehospital and hospital settings and featured a more refined design, color LCD, CPR metronome and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless transmission of ECGs. The 15 was also the first model to support Masimo RainbowSET pulse oximetry. The newest model, Lifepak 35, was introduced in 2024 and features a complete redesign from earlier models including omitting most of the hard button controls and instead using a touchscreen to control most functions of the device. The 35 also features a diagnostic quality LCD, cprINSIGHT and STJInsight technologies, pediatric AED protocols, and live 12 or 15 lead ECGs. Advanced models include the Lifepak 12, 15, 20, and 35 for use by healthcare professionals such as emergency medical technicians and paramedics. Automatic units include the Lifepak 500, Lifepak 1000, Lifepak CR Plus and the Lifepak CR2 for use by members of the public who have been trained to operate them.

Usage Most Lifepak defibrillators are capable of performing more than only defibrillation. Many models allow for cardiac monitoring (including heart rate monitoring and 12-Lead ECG acquisition and interpretation) and alert the users to sudden changes. The Lifepak 15, 20/20e, 35 and CR2 include a CPR metronome that is also capable of verbally aiding rescuers in providing ventilations. Advanced Lifepak monitor/defibrillators also include options for synchronized cardioversion, external pacing, oxygen saturation monitoring, End tidal CO2, and both non-invasive and invasive blood pressure. The Lifepak CR2 and 35 include CPRInsight analysis technology which allows for chest compression during analysis of the patient's ECG.

In popular culture In the 1975 film Three Days of the Condor, several Lifepak 911 monitors are used in an ICU. One of them sounds an alarm when a patient is murdered.

See also Ambulance Medical device Physio-Control Defibrillation Cardioversion Electrocardiography

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Lifepak

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Lifepak claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Lifepak before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Lifepak ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Lifepak

In research: Lifepak appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Lifepak in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Lifepak is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Cardiac electrophysiology, Emergency medical equipment, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Lifepak outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

How to study Lifepak in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Lifepak means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Lifepak out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Lifepak in simple terms?

Lifepak (stylized LIFEPAK) is a series of vital signs monitors and external cardiac defibrillators produced by medical technology company Physio-Control. Lifepak defibrillators are manufactured and distributed from the company headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

Why does Lifepak matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Lifepak?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Lifepak.