“The Automated External Defibrillator”
What happens when a couple of engineers have an idea that could have tremendous societal benefit but face daunting technical challenges with no financial backing? The result is an emotional roller coaster, where perseverance and passion eventually pay off. Years ago, Tom Lyster and some of his friends had the idea that cardiac defibrillation shouldn't be limited to hospitals but rather that portable automated external defibrillators (AED's) should be invented. He tells the story of the subsequent struggle to make AED's a prevalent reality. Now, thankfully, AED's are widely located in shopping malls, office buildings and airplanes. Come hear how it all came about.
Biography: After working in engineering at Physio Control (Redmond, WA), Tom and four of his colleagues ventured out on their own to solve the technical and business-related challenges of bringing cardiac defibrillation from a hospital environment into common locales such as airplanes and businesses. The result is the now familiar AED (automated external defibrillator). Their company, Heartstream, Inc., was later purchased by Agilent Technologies, and then later by Philips Medical. Tom recently retired from Philips Medical and now resides on Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands. In recent years he has become involved in overseas business related-mission work in Asia. Tom earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and later his Master of Science degree in bioengineering, both from the University of Washington. Tom holds 31 patents related to cardiac defibrillation.
Article in USA TODAY: //www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2003-07-30-inventors_x.htm
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