Each year in the United States and Canada, nearly 350,000 people go into cardiac arrest. And the best way to save the life of someone in cardiac arrest is through the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Unfortunately, while CPR training is becoming more widespread, many people don’t perform it properly – the results of which can be fatal. But a new company is looking to alter that trend.
Atreo Medical Inc. was established in 2007 to introduce products to support the proper delivery of live-saving medical treatment. The first product the company is developing is the CPRGlove™ - a device designed to help individuals more accurately and proficiently perform CPR. A person puts on the glove during resuscitation, and multiple sensors embedded within it instantly collect information. Along with giving users real-time step-by-step instructions on how to perform CPR, the information collected also can be used to gauge and assess technique. The invention was designed with three different uses in mind: as a training device, a testing device and an emergency tool designed to improve CPR performance.
For training, the device enables individuals to teach themselves CPR or train with minimal supervision. By connecting the CPRGlove to a computer or other display, the device gives the wearer instructions while also collecting data on their performance that can be reviewed later. For testing, an individual would wear the glove and perform different phases of CPR. During the test, the glove collects data on compression force, depth, rate, angle, heart-rate and hand-positioning. Afterward, all the collected data is sent to a computer where it can be analyzed to see where the tester did well and where he or she needs to improve. But, perhaps most importantly, in real emergencies, people can quickly slide the glove on and receive guidance through each phase of the CPR process – helping them to perform resuscitation optimally in a moment of high panic and stress.
Eventually, Atreo Medical hopes the portable glove will be a staple in first-aid kits everywhere - where it could serve as a supplementary tool for those already trained in CPR. According to Atreo, only six months after CPR training the quality of the administration begins to decrease. They believe the glove can provide a convenient way to remind individuals of proper CPR technique. And since correctly performed CPR can double a cardiac-arresting individual’s chances of survival, they hope, ultimately, the invention will save lives.
Such lofty goals have helped the CPRGlove receive a lot of press and accolades. The device was named one of the top ten inventions of 2007 by Popular Mechanics, and one of the best inventions of the year by TIME Magazine. Additionally, the CPRGlove was noted as one of the 33 greatest ideas from around the world by Reader’s Digest. And all the media attention seems to have paid off. While not on the market yet, Atreo recently received a $500,000 grant from the Ontario government to help commercialize the product. The grant was provided through the province’s Market Readiness Program, which helps innovative Ontario companies grow and expand.
No word yet on when the CPRGlove will hit store shelves.
