Compare Home Use Defibrillators
Nearly a quarter million people suffer heart attacks each year, and for many of them at home. With the approval of over-the-counter AED (Automated External Defibrillator) units by the FDA in 2004, countless lives have been saved. But which AED defibrillator is right for you and your family?
Brands of Home-Use Defibrillators
There are at least seven manufacturers of Automated External Defibrillators (AED), also known as Personal Automated Defibrillator (PAD). There are three manufacturers however, which appear to be the industry leaders when it comes to AED defibrillators. The big three defibrillator manufacturers are the the Zoll AED Plus, the Philips HeartStart On-Site Defibrillator and the Medtronic LifePak CR Plus. While there are other defibrillators like Welch Allyn, Cardiac Science, Heartsine and Defibtech, our study shows that Zoll, Philips and Medtronic are the top rated home-use defibrillators.
AED Defibrillator Price Comparison
A quick search on the internet turns up numerous options and pricing. It should also be noted that in some states and municipalities there may be government AED grants available. Here are the price ranges we were able to find for the AED defibrillators compared below:
- Zoll AED Plus Defibrillator $1,095 – $1,649
- Philips HeartStart Onsite AED $1,263 – $1,350
- Medtronic LifePak CR Plus AED $1,595 – $1,795
Features of the Zoll AED Plus
- Not pushing hard enough? It will tell you when to push harder.
- Pushing hard enough? It will say, “Good compressions.”
- Not pushing fast enough? A metronome will lead you to the right rate.
- It will even show you the depth of each compression. In real time.
- Not yet started? The AED Plus will tell you again to get started.
- Compressions stopped? It will tell you to continue.
- Real CPR Help for rate and depth of compressions.
- Support for the complete Chain of Survival.
- Help to all victims of SCA, even those for which no shock is advised.
- A one-piece pad for fast and accurate placement.
- Consumer lithium camera batteries available from retail stores.
- Intelligent Pediatric Capability.
- ZOLL’s Rectilinear Biphasic™ Waveform.
- Total AED Program Management with En-Pro.
- Guidelines 2005 Ready.
Features of the Philips HeartStart Onsite AED
- The HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator guides you through each step of defibrillation using clear, natural voice instructions
- OnSite automatically conducts self-tests every single day, not just weekly.
- High-current/low energy therapy ensures a potent defibrillation dose, while minimizing side effects that are harmful to a fragile heart.
- Quick Shock feature delivers therapy in just 8 seconds (typical) after chest compressions.
- AED/CPR training, web-based program management, and case management software available to US residents.
Features of the Medtronic LifePak CR Plus AED
- LIFEPAK CR® Plus – created for lay users in commercial and public settings.
- Designed for minimally-trained rescuers.
- AED tells the rescuer exactly what to do, one step at a time, in a simple, clear voice.
- Easy to understand and use in a cardiac emergency, when every second counts.
- Built with the same advanced defibrillation technology used by emergency medical services and hospital personnel.
- LIFEPAK CR Plus AED uses the latest ADAPTIV™ biphasic technology.
- Fully automatic LIFEPAK CR Plus AED requires just two steps, and the device does the rest.
Comparing Home-Use Defibrillators
When comparing defibrillators we recommend visiting their company websites to determine the level of support you can count on from each of the manufacturers. We also suggest researching Consumer Reports and other publications to help you make the most informed decision you can so that when you compare aed defibrillators you have as much information as possible at your finger tips.