2012 Innovation in Medical Devices: Physio-Control CEO Brian Webster

Physio-Control
Redmond

Time is muscle is the adage in cardiology, and it sums up the importance of Physio-Controls ReadyLink, a portable, data-connected electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor that can be used by basic life support teams on a rural emergency medical services (EMS) unit. When racing the clock, ReadyLink grants first-line providers a much earlier start.
Portable ECG monitors have been in common use among the well-equipped teams of urban EMS units such as King County Medic One. But in rural areas, such sophisticated devices have been out of reach for teams that are more typically composed of volunteers with less medical training. ReadyLink puts a 12-lead ECG device into their hands and uses modern wireless transmission to connect them to the experts for immediate interpretation and decision support. As Physio-Control CEO Brian Webster sees it, Thats a huge win from a regional perspective.
ReadyLink takes advantage of the type of data connection common to most cell phones to bring the full range of diagnostic and support services directly to teams in the field. We look at the ReadyLink product as one more tool to hang on our Lifenet network, Webster says.
Lifenet is a medical management system that has become the core of Physio-Controls business. Used by 55 percent of United States hospitals capable of cardiac intervention therapy, it provides rapid insight into a chest pain patients condition and suggests the most efficient transportation routing to a facility for treatment.
As we increasingly understand that time is the enemy, says Webster, the data network plays an increasingly important role in shrinking time to treatment.
Physio-Controls ownership changed recently after 14 years as a division of Minneapolis-based Medtronic. Wishing to concentrate on its core business of devices for chronic disease management, Medtronic announced last November its decision to sell Physio-Control to private equity firm Bain Capital for $487 million. The sale closed in January. Webster continues as CEO.

SILVER AWARD

Mobisante, Redmond
Mobisante has created a portable and cost-effective ultrasound system for use with triage applications and in remote areas. The first smartphone-based diagnostic device approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Mobisantes system closes the gap between the 90 percent of the world with a smartphone signal and the less than 30 percent of Americans who have access to the ultrasound technology they need. The smartphone platform for the technology enables images from the field to be transmitted to specialists if in-depth analysis is necessary. Mobisante also allows providers to store all images in the cloud automatically. Sarah Dewey