SAN ANTONIO & REDMOND, Wash., Nov 15, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Innovative new mobile cardiac monitoring solutions are on the horizon. At the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2010, AirStrip Technologies, a pioneer in mobile medical software applications and Physio-Control, Inc., the world leader in emergency medical solutions, announced a joint partnership to deliver integrated lifesaving mobile solutions. Initially, the partnership will integrate AirStrip's remote patient monitoring applications with Physio-Control's patient data transmission network, mobilizing critical information, resulting in better-informed clinical decision making and improved patient outcomes.

The fully-integrated solution will leverage the capabilities of AirStrip CARDIOLOGYTM, a solution allowing clinicians to dynamically view a patient's ECG history, and Physio-Control's LIFENET(R) System, a web-based data transmission network that provides healthcare organizations with tools to help them improve operational efficiency and quality of care.

Used together, AirStrip CARDIOLOGY and the LIFENET System allow for unprecedented collaboration between emergency medical services (EMS), emergency department (ED), and cardiology teams, especially when transporting patients experiencing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

AirStrip CARDIOLOGY, deployed as a native application on smartphones and tablet devices, will receive 12-lead ECG waveforms, vital signs and other data transmitted wirelessly from EMS crews' LIFEPAK(R) 12 defibrillator/monitors and 15 monitor/defibrillators in the field via the LIFENET System. Clinicians can then access the data from anywhere in the hospital and review and respond to it on their iPhone(R) with LIFENET Consult, a new mobile application available in the newly-released LIFENET System 5.0. In addition, clinicians who are AirStrip users will have advanced viewing capabilities, with high fidelity waveform analysis, displaying 12-lead ECG reports with sharp resolution and providing dynamic review tools such as calipers, 12-lead ECG scrolling, cine loop views of each lead, and other features and functionalities not yet seen in the EMS environment for 12-lead ECG review and patient management.

The integrated solution empowers clinicians to communicate immediately with the EMS crew to provide the clinical assistance needed to properly care for the patient while en route, direct them to the appropriate care facility and prepare for the arrival of the patient accordingly. With the integrated solution, these capabilities are available to clinicians anytime, anywhere on their smartphone or tablet device.

"AirStrip is focused on improving patient safety and improving clinical outcomes through the use of mobility by delivering meaningful, visual data to clinical decision makers regardless of physical location," said Cameron Powell, M.D. and president, AirStrip Technologies, Inc. "Our partnership with Physio-Control extends the reach of our Cardiology solution to link those critical patients who have not yet arrived at the Emergency Department with the clinicians who need to make decisions fast. In the world of cardiology, time is muscle. The partnership between AirStrip and Physio-Control is focused on shortening that time so that the right decisions can be made faster and more reliably in these acute situations."

"With complementary solutions in the marketplace, our partnership with AirStrip takes EMS-hospital coordination to a whole new level," said Brian Webster, president, Physio-Control, Inc. "I expect this collaboration will lead to new and innovative ways to display patient information in the future, beyond 12-lead ECGs and other vital signs."

A free demonstration version of the AirStrip Patient Monitoring application is now available for download in Apple's App Store. The free demonstration version of the AirStrip Cardiology application is scheduled to be available by early December with a fully functional version expected to be available in the first half of 2011.

About AirStrip Technologies, Inc.
Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, AirStrip Technologies is a pioneer in mobile medical software applications designed to work across any platform to improve patient safety and reduce risk in the healthcare setting. AirStrip Technologies engages, consults and employs leading technology and medical experts to ensure their products are the best in the industry. The core technology team is committed to bringing best-of-breed products to the market that enhance the ability of physicians and healthcare professionals to perform their work on a daily basis with the added assurances that their patients are being provided the best care available. Visit www.airstriptech.com for more information.

About Physio-Control, Inc.
Physio-Control, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medtronic, Inc., is located in Redmond, Wash. Physio-Control pioneered defibrillation technology more than 55 years ago. The company is the world's leading provider of external defibrillation and monitoring technology for the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest and other cardiorespiratory emergencies. To find out more about Physio-Control, go to www.physio-control.com or call 1-800-442-1142.

About Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

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SOURCE: Medtronic, Inc.

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