Profile: Cardiac Science Corporation (CSCX.O)

Cardiac Science Corporation, incorporated on February 24, 2005, develops, manufactures and markets a family of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic cardiology devices and systems, including automated external defibrillators (AEDs), electrocardiograph systems, stress test systems, Holter monitoring systems, hospital defibrillators, cardiac rehabilitation telemetry systems, and cardiology data management systems (informatics) that connect with hospital information (HIS), electronic medical record (EMR), and other information systems. The Company sells a variety of related products and consumables, and provide a portfolio of training, maintenance and support services. The Company is the successor to the cardiac businesses that established the trusted Burdick, HeartCentrix, Powerheart and Quinton brands. Cardiac Science distributes its products in nearly 100 countries worldwide, with operations in North America, Europe and Asia.

Cardiac Monitoring Products

The Company's cardiac monitoring products deliver solutions and improve workflow for healthcare providers worldwide in multiple settings. Many of the Company's products are built on a Microsoft Windows-based software architecture designed to integrate critical data capture, provide enterprise level access to data and scale to meet the requirements of a variety of cardiovascular care environments. The cardiac monitoring products include: Resting electrocardiogram (ECG) systems, Cardiac stress testing systems, Holter monitoring systems, Cardiac rehabilitation telemetry systems and Cardiology data management systems (informatics),

Cardiac Science offers a variety of ECG systems that allow physicians to record and analyze patient ECG waveforms at rest to assess the presence of cardiac disease. These products are designed to improve workflow and are offered at various price points and configurations, and cover the spectrum of market needs, ranging from low-cost units targeting physicians offices to fully featured units that are designed for rigorous clinical and hospital settings.

The Company's stress testing systems allow cardiologists and other healthcare providers to monitor and analyze the performance of the heart under stress. The stress systems record a patient’s heart rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure, and other vital signs during induced stress. The Company's treadmills, specifically designed for cardiac monitoring procedures.

The Company's Holter products and systems record and assess the performance of a patient’s heart during various activities over extended periods of time. The Holter recorder, an ambulatory monitor typically worn for 24 hours or more, records the patient’s heart rate, heart rhythm, and ECG waveform data.

Cardiac Science's telemetry devices and database products monitor the patient’s heart rate, heart rhythm, and ECG waveform data during rehabilitation exercises. These rehabilitation devices and database products, used with the Company's treadmills, provide real-time clinical data and trend analysis to enable cardiologists and other healthcare providers to track and assess improvements in cardiovascular function.

The Company provides cardiology data management systems that automate the processing, storage, retrieval and editing of electrocardiograms and other patient data. Cardiac Science's open architecture strategy provides customers with the flexibility to integrate with an increasing number of devices and data management systems while retaining their equipment.

Cardiac monitoring products often require lead wires and electrodes to be attached to the patient to retrieve and process patient ECGs, as well as thermal chart paper to generate reports. The Company sells these items, including its Quik-Prep electrodes, and provides an array of complementary cardiology related products, such as blood pressure monitors and spirometers.

Cardiac Science provides a portfolio of training, maintenance, and other services to medical and non-medical customers. Its services organization provides installation, repair, maintenance and technical services, as well as hardware and software upgrades to the Company's installed base of products.

Defibrillation Products

All of the Company's defibrillation products incorporate its RHYTHMx technology. This platform technology is designed to detect ventricular fibrillation and other life-threatening arrhythmias. Its Self-Tracking Active Response (STAR) biphasic technology is designed to optimize the delivery of a potentially life-saving electric shock to victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

AEDs designed for public access are deployed in settings, including educational institutions, federal, state and local municipal agencies, fire and police departments, ambulances, railroads, airports, airlines, military bases, hospitals, nursing homes, health clubs, physician and dental offices and corporations. The Company's AEDs have also been chosen by many local governments and municipalities. Public access AEDs are available in both automatic and semi-automatic models with varying levels of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) voice prompts.

The Company’s professional AEDs are designed for use by sophisticated users of lifesaving equipment, such as hospital personnel, medical professionals and emergency medical technicians. These products display the victim’s heart rhythm on a built-in high resolution color ECG display and give professional users the option of delivering defibrillation shocks either semi-automatically or manually during the emergency treatment of a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.

Traditional defibrillators are typically positioned in the hospital at locations, such as critical care and cardiac care units, emergency and operating rooms, electrophysiology labs, medical transport environments and alternate care facilities. Cardiac Science provides a line of supplies and accessories to support customers defibrillation programs. These include replacement electrodes and batteries, training devices, wall cabinets, carrying cases and more.

Cardiac Science provides a range of AED training, maintenance and support services. Its services include training in the use of AEDs and related training in CPR. The Company delivers these AED/CPR training services in the field through a United States field staff. Cardiac Science also provides medical direction and information management necessary for AED users to be in compliance with various state laws and regulations.

The Company competes with Philips, Medtronic, Zoll Medical, Schiller, Welch Allyn, General Electric, Midmark, SpaceLabs, Life Sensing Instruments and Scott Care.