HeartSine Technologies, Inc was established in 1997 as a medical device development company focusing on defibrillation technology. It was based on research carried out in the Northern Ireland Bio-Engineering Centre at the University of Ulster. The parent company is based in the US with a N.I. subsidiary, which became the main operating base.
The company developed new defibrillators that automatically deliver a controlled electrical shock to restart the heart in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). These devices, known as Automated External Defibrillators (“AEDs”), are designed for use by lesser-trained emergency responders or first aiders. Heartsine’s first product, the Samaritan, was launched in the European market at the Ambex show in June 2002.
A more compact defibrillator, known as the PAD, we launched in 2004 and is now one of the company’s leading products. This obtained FDA approval in the US and sales commenced in both the US and European markets.
Crescent divested its shareholding in Heartsine to other shareholders in March 2008. The business has subsequently grown very substantially and today employs circa 100 staff.
