How did ZOLL chose the color of its AED?
The color is unusual but it met the needs that focus groups and users told us were most important. An AED had to be highly visible so that the product could be found easily when needed. Public safety staff and especially policemen were concerned about leaving it behind so they wanted it highly visible. Actually the color is quite commonly used around the world when high visibility is required. Just look at airports and many other transportation type applications. So high visibility was the first characteristic in our choice .

What else was important about color was that it be "warm" to the prospective infrequent operator. We did not want a color that suggested danger or high voltage to AED users. An Aid's color should be warm so as to encourage people to want to use an AED. No AED should threaten the user by its color.

The ZOLL AED intelface seems to look rather different compared to other AEOs?
This is the world's first AED to address all aspects of the rescue. not just the shock. The interface reflects the complexity of what a rescuer must remember.

After all, "an AED is primarily a defibrillator and its interface". When it comes to an interface for helping the infrequent, less experienced rescuer. we can't imagine anything better than the graphical interface that we have developed. People learn and recall things best when they hear see and do them. When these visual prompts are used in conjunction with the rescuers initial training, we believe the pictures, voice, and text prompts combined will be a powerful motivator and support system for the infrequent rescuer.

Do I have to wait for the entire picture LEOs to sequence before I can defibrillate?
No the pictures do not stop you from immediately attaching the CPRD padz. In this way in the ZOLL AED Plus works like any other ordinary AED. Once the electrodes are attached it will begin analysis automatically and in this respect works just like the early model AEDs. The new ZOLL AED Plus is the best of both worlds. If you are skilled at recognizing cardiac arrest you can work as quickly as you want to rapidly deliver shocks. If you are not as experienced, you have a good support system to help you get through the rescue. Have it your way.

Every single step in the Hearl Saver course isn't included. For Instance like look listen and feel for breathing.
There is a trade off between telling their rescue too much and giving him enough to just prompt his best recollections of his training, We have aired on the side of not trying to cover every detail of the Heart Saver but just enough to make sure you get the desired rescuer behavior and prompt recall of their training. We think we have the right blend and could add additional voice prompts at some later date if we felt this was important and would enhance rescuer performance,

What about having spare batteries and changing batteries?
It is possible to keep extra batteries with this device in a special sleeve that batteries come with. Some recommendations would tend to suggest this may need to be done to comply with rules for the use of AEDs such as having a "spare battery available. Having extra batteries in the ambulance or police car or fire truck or on the nursing units would probably meet the intent of the regulations.

Be aware however, that most recommendations on batteries date back to bad experiences with rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries due to memory and sustained overcharge rather than the newer long life lithium manganese cells that are designed for 10 year shelf life and a single use.

The ZOLL AED Plus is a new generation product and the lithium batteries are long lasting and reliable. The self-test feature and warning tones should help insure batteries are replaced, While we made provision for spares, it would be difficult for an 'nfrequent operator, in the midst of the one cardiac arrest they have ever had to treat, to change a battery pack or open the battery compartment to change batteries, An AED should prevent this from happening by monitoring capacity and underrating the batteries life.

How does the CPR depth gauge sensor work on different size patients? It can't work tor every patient since chests are different?
The CPR depth gauge sensor doesn't work differently on different size patients. It works the same all the time because it measures depth of compression not force of compression. We don't measure force and converting it to depth. We are actually measuring motion and converting that to inches. Therefore, the accelerometer is capable of measuring the actual depth against a target depth.

What about use of the ZOLL AED Plus on pediatric patients?
We do not have an indication for use with pediatric patients at the present time. This will be phased into the ZOll AED Plus at a later date. We are currently working with the FDA and anticipate receiving approval some time in the near future.

How can one size electrode fit all patients?
We studied and measured many individuals to be sure we developed measurements of actual populations.

We also sized the electrodes to match the highest percentile measurements of anthropometric data so it would be more common for the electrodes to fit patients rather than not fit patients. We think the simplicity of the one-piece design is appealing in terms of the way it simplifies the whole process of AED use and attachment. It helps with the greater good.

Also, it is important not to assume that two separate electrodes are simple are in fact. One of the most common focus group complaints was related to the complexity of using two electrodes, handling the parts and pieces and where to put them. Where they wind up has not been studied to our knowledge.

What If I leave the unit on with the cover in place after manually checking it with the power switch?
It won't stay on. To insure this can't occur it has a built-in sleep timer so it won't fully deplete the batteries. The sleep timer can be configured to turn the device off after 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 minutes.

What if someone moves a paUent with a possible neck injury to place the PASS under the shoulders?
Cervical spine injury requires recognition by the rescuer regardless of whether they are using the PASS or other
recommended airway maneuvers or adjuncts. The problem is not that a PASS is available but that the possible injury is unrecognized and appropriate precautions not taken.

Medical control authorities can decide to use or not use the PASS depending on the rescuer and skill level. Delete it from teaching and remove the label in the top cover of the device if it is not to be included as an airway adjunct.

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