Product Design and Development magazine created the annual Engineering Awards program to salute design ideas that “show innovation, creativity, and usefulness to society.” In the December 2002 issue, 50 finalists were featured with a request for readers to send in votes for the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards. As a result of this poll, the ZOLL AED Plus was chosen as the 2003 Gold Medal Winner.

According to the design team, the goal of this project was to develop a simple, accessible and inexpensive heart defibrillator – so easy to use that anyone could respond to a potential cardiac event and be guided through critical lifesaving procedures. About 250,000 people die each year from sudden cardiac arrest, according to American Heart Association estimates. The survival interval from collapse to death is typically 10 minutes, with a 10% decrease in survival expectancy with every minute defibrillation is delayed. Delivering a defined electrical pulse or “shock” directly to the heart through the use of a defibrillator can help save a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.

“Only the ZOLL AED Plus defibrillator guides the user through the entire rescue process including CPR, as defined by the American Heart Association's (AHA) lifesaving protocol,” said Anthony Pannozzo, HLB’s Director of Design. “Whether the user is a professional first responder or a layperson, he or she can be confident in the steps necessary to potentially save a victim of sudden cardiac arrest thanks to having a virtual coach in the AED Plus.”

The AED Plus is non-intimidating and intuitive, almost resembling a familiar and comfortable child’s toy, even though it is a highly sophisticated device capable of delivering a 200-joule electric shock, according to the designers. It has a friendly and simple shape, using colors and graphics that help sooth the rescuer and ensure appropriate response. Each pictogram uses color carefully to focus the rescuer on a specific maneuver, and its bright lime-green color makes it easy to locate in an emergency.