Awarded Airworthiness Certification

The Philips HeartStart MRx Monitor/Defibrillator has been granted Airworthiness Certification from the United States Army. The Army can now use the multi-function, advanced life support (ALS) device in some of the most rigorous and demanding environments faced by military personnel.

The U.S. Army Airworthiness Certification and Evaluation (ACE) program at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) confirmed the completion of extensive aeromedical testing and evaluation of the MRx, both in the laboratory and aboard MEDEVAC H-60 Helicopters. The certification is only issued after extensive testing intended to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its subsystems, the aircraft crew, the device itself, and the patient.

“Philips Healthcare has always been proud of its presence in military hospitals,” said Michael Miller, senior vice president and general manager of Cardiac Care for Philips Healthcare. “With the HeartStart MRx receiving this airworthiness certification, U.S. troops can benefit from definitive, lifesaving care from the moment they need it and while en route to a medical center. Philips is there to support the military through the entire care continuum, from the battlefield to the bedside.”

Having met the U.S. Army’s rigorous airworthiness testing and standards affirms the ruggedness of the HeartStart MRx, which is designed to excel in a wide range of demanding environments, including those faced by emergency medical services, fire, law enforcement and rural and urban communities.

The HeartStart MRx Monitor/Defibrillator transmits 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) reports captured in the field wirelessly to the hospital to better prepare medical professionals before patient arrival. This data integrates seamlessly with the hospital’s ECG management system enabling critical patient information to be seen where it’s needed so that physicians can review the data and begin to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Additionally, the rugged and portable HeartStart MRx combines advanced defibrillation and monitoring technology, including Philips patented SMART Biphasic therapy, pulse oximetry (SpO₂), noninvasive blood pressure (NBP), invasive blood pressure (IBP), capnography (etCO₂), continuous temperature monitoring, and Q-CPR™ technology, which offers medical professionals corrective feedback on the rate and depth of chest compressions, as well as the frequency and quality of ventilations, encouraging them to adjust their technique as needed to improve CPR.