History of Deca-Medics, Inc.

In 1979, Dr. Lach performed the first Angioplasti in the Midwest and was one of 6 or so doctors in the US practicing the procedure. During the early days, several patients suffered myocardial infarctions as a result of the placement of the balloon catheters in the already restricted vessels.

Early that year, Dr. Lach read an article published by Dr. Michael Criley of Hardor-UCLA that attributed blood flow during CPR as being the result of a rise in intrathoracic pressure as opposed to direct cardiac compression. This idea developed out of the fact that patients in ventricular fibrillation (VF) were able to remain conscious as long as they continued to cough (Cough CPR). Dr. Ralph Lach and one of his patients, Elmer Lusk, expanded on Dr. Criley's work and developed the idea for a band would be able to squeeze the blood out of the chest. By releasing the compression force, the chest would return to its normal size and draw blood back into the major organs. Positive blood flow would occur due to the one-way valves in the vascular network. Thus, the doctor would be allowed the opportunity to finish the procedure and maintain a minimum amount of blood flow. And thus, the circumferential band and take-up reel idea was born and a patent application was completed in 1980.

Dr. Lach's patent issued in September of 1988 where it received little attention as his practice burgeoned with the opportunities presented by the grown in interventional opportunities.

On February 14, 1994, one of Dr. Lach's sons, Thom began Deca-Medics with the idea of commercializing the circumferential band concept. In November of 1995, Deca-Medics completed its first study of its automated belt and take-up reel design at the Safar Center of Resuscitation Research.





Realizing that the cost of an automated device may prove to be prohibitive to the vast majority of first responders, Deca- Medics focused its attention on developing a manual device that incorporated the benefits of circumferential constraint and direct cardiac compression into a manually operated device. The LifeBelt®-CPR product is a lightweight, easy-to-use device. Unique to this product is its patented method for incorporating a mechanical advantage to allow rescuers regardless of their size or physical strength the ability to perform adequate compressions over an extended period of time. In addition, its size and ease-of-use will enable it to be integrated with defibrillation and other resuscitation products in the market place.