03.10.09 - News
LifeBelt® wins Global Design Contest
Competition sponsored by NASA Tech Briefs and Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corp. attracts more than 1,000 innovative product ideas from engineers and students in 50 countries.
NEW YORK, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeBelt(R) CPR, a new device that makes it easy for anyone to perform high-quality CPR compressions in the event of cardiac arrest, has won the $20,000 grand prize in the 2008 Create the Future Design Contest sponsored by NASA Tech Briefs magazine (www.techbriefs.com) and Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corp. (www.solidworks.com). LifeBelt was among a record 1,091 entries in the seventh annual contest.
Developed by Thomas Lach of Deca-Medics Inc., Columbus, OH, LifeBelt overcomes a critical limitation of "hands-only" CPR: the average rescuer is only capable of producing effective chest compressions for about two minutes, far shorter than the typical eight to ten minute emergency response time. With LifeBelt, half as much force is needed, resulting in less fatigue and longer-duration compressions - increasing the likelihood of a successful resuscitation.
The compact, lightweight device is designed to attach quickly, enabling a rescuer to start CPR in 15 seconds or less. An intuitive readout warns if the compression depth is too deep or shallow, giving the rescuer confidence that he or she is pushing properly.
"Most cardiac arrests don't occur in a hospital or controlled environment," said Mr. Lach. "They happen at home or at work. This is an easy-to-use product for all of us."
About NASA Tech Briefs
NASA Tech Briefs, the world's largest-circulation design engineering magazine with a monthly readership exceeding 400,000, features exclusive reports of innovations developed by NASA and its industry partners/contractors that can be applied to develop new/improved products and solve engineering or manufacturing problems. See www.techbriefs.com or www.techbriefsmediagroup.com.
Thom Lach
614-486-1312
thom.lach@deca-medics.com
NEW YORK, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeBelt(R) CPR, a new device that makes it easy for anyone to perform high-quality CPR compressions in the event of cardiac arrest, has won the $20,000 grand prize in the 2008 Create the Future Design Contest sponsored by NASA Tech Briefs magazine (www.techbriefs.com) and Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corp. (www.solidworks.com). LifeBelt was among a record 1,091 entries in the seventh annual contest.
Developed by Thomas Lach of Deca-Medics Inc., Columbus, OH, LifeBelt overcomes a critical limitation of "hands-only" CPR: the average rescuer is only capable of producing effective chest compressions for about two minutes, far shorter than the typical eight to ten minute emergency response time. With LifeBelt, half as much force is needed, resulting in less fatigue and longer-duration compressions - increasing the likelihood of a successful resuscitation.
The compact, lightweight device is designed to attach quickly, enabling a rescuer to start CPR in 15 seconds or less. An intuitive readout warns if the compression depth is too deep or shallow, giving the rescuer confidence that he or she is pushing properly.
"Most cardiac arrests don't occur in a hospital or controlled environment," said Mr. Lach. "They happen at home or at work. This is an easy-to-use product for all of us."
About NASA Tech Briefs
NASA Tech Briefs, the world's largest-circulation design engineering magazine with a monthly readership exceeding 400,000, features exclusive reports of innovations developed by NASA and its industry partners/contractors that can be applied to develop new/improved products and solve engineering or manufacturing problems. See www.techbriefs.com or www.techbriefsmediagroup.com.
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ContactThom Lach
614-486-1312
thom.lach@deca-medics.com