Wearable Defibrillator Protects Patients at Cardiac Risk

A wearable defibrillator provides protection for patients with heart failure (HF) who are in danger of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), giving physicians the time needed to assess long-term arrhythmic risk.

The Zoll LifeVest wearable defibrillator is a lightweight, easy to wear device that is intended for use in a wide range of patient conditions or situations, including following a HF decompensation, myocardial infarction (MI), before or after bypass surgery or stent placement, as well as for those with cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure (CHF) that places them at particular risk. The LifeVest allows patients to return to their activities of daily living, while having the peace of mind that they are protected from SCA.


Unlike an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), the LifeVest is worn outside the body rather than implanted in the chest, continuously monitoring the patient's heart with dry, nonadhesive sensing electrodes to detect life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms. If a life-threatening rhythm is detected, the device alerts the patient prior to delivering a treatment shock, and thus allows a conscious patient to delay the treatment shock. If the patient becomes unconscious, the device releases Blue gel over the therapy electrodes and delivers an electrical shock to restore normal rhythm.

An accompanying online patient management system, The LifeVest Network, allows clinicians to monitor patient data downloaded from a patient’s LifeVest, which can be accessed online. The LifeVest Network allows the physician to monitor patients efficiently and be notified of events recorded by the patient's LifeVest device. The physician can log in and review patient information, or set up alerts and be notified when a patient has clinical information for review. The LifeVest wearable defibrillator and the LifeVest Network are products of ZOLL Medical Corporation (Chelmsford, MA, USA).

“The LifeVest is an important therapy in the continuum of care for patients with heart failure, protecting patients during this time of highest risk while they are being optimized on medical therapy,” said Marshal Linder, President of ZOLL LifeVest. “Continuing to educate the cardiology community about SCA risks associated with heart failure is an important step in protecting more patients and saving more lives.”

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