Asahi Kasei Completes Acquisition of ZOLL

Asahi Kasei Completes Acquisition of ZOLL  

 Tokyo, Japan/ New York, NY, U.S. – April 27/26, 2012 – Asahi Kasei Corporation (TSE1: 3407, hereinafter: Asahi Kasei), Japan’s leading diversified chemical manufacturer with businesses in the health care, chemicals & fibers, homes & construction materials, and electronics sectors, announced today the successful completion of its acquisition of ZOLL Medical Corporation (hereinafter: ZOLL), a major US manufacturer of medical devices for critical care, on April 26, 2012, US Eastern time.

On March 12, 2012, Asahi Kasei announced a tender offer for shares of ZOLL, through a US subsidiary.  All procedures related to this acquisition were completed on April 26, 2012, US Eastern time, and ZOLL became a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary of Asahi Kasei.

As a result, ZOLL’s stock will cease to be traded on the NASDAQ market, and ZOLL will no longer have reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  ZOLL will continue to be managed by its current management team.

AutoPulse

AutoPulse Non-Invasive Cardiac Support Pump

AutoPulse Non-Invasive Cardiac Support Pump. Consistent Compressions. No Interruptions.

For victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), only one thing is certain - chest compressions will be required. Yet, manual compressions - even when they are done well - only provide 10 - 20% of normal blood flow to the heart and 30 - 40 % to the brain.¹

Non-Invasive Cardiac Support Pump

Now, there's an alternative. The only device of its kind, the ZOLL^®AutoPulse^® is a revolutionary non-invasive cardiac support pumpthat moves more blood, more consistently than is possible with human hands.^2,3,4 Easy to use and battery operated, its load-distributing LifeBand^® squeezes the entire chest. As a result, victims receive more consistent, high-quality compressions than those delivered by simple automated CPR devices, which means improved blood flow.

Minimizes No-Flow Time

AutoPulse also minimizes no-flow time. It allows rescuers to provide compressions while performing other life-saving activities, or while transporting a victim down the stairs or in the back of a moving ambulance.

Improved Blood Flow For Cardiac Arrest Victims

The AutoPulse cardiac support pump delivers improved blood flow without interruptions of fatigue and provides hospital caregivers better access to the patient resulting in the possibility of improved survival for cardiac arrest victims. In fact, the AutoPulse cardiac support pump has been shown to triple survival-to-hospital discharge ⁵.

Ensures Clinical Safety

• Ensures improved blood flow by squeezing the entire chest, not just pushing on a single spot like manual CPR and other mechanical devices
• Is fast, easy and intuitive to start-up and use - it doesn't require manual adjustments because it automatically calculates the size, shape and resistance of each patient's chest
• Functions as an "additional person"
• Ensures clinical safety
• Ensures rescuer safety during transport

References

1. Kern K et al. Bailliere's Clinical Anaesthesiology. 2000;14(3):591-609.
2. Halperin HR et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2004; 44(11):2214-2220.
3. Ikeno F et al. Resuscitation. 2006;68:109-118.
4. Timerman S et al. Resuscitation. 2004;61:273-280.5.
5. Ornator JP et al. American Heart Association Annual Meeting. 2005

ZOLL Propaq MD

Propaq MD

The Smallest, Lightest, Most Advanced Monitor/Defibrillator for Military and Air Medical Operations

The Propaq^® MD is a new ultra-lightweight compact device with highly sophisticated, advanced capabilities that combine the well-accepted and proven features of Propaq monitorswith the clinically superior therapeutic capabilities of ZOLL defibrillation and non-invasive pacing technologies. The Propaq MD is 60 percent smaller and 40 percent lighter than other similar monitor/defibrillators. It is two pounds lighter than the current military vital signs monitor, the Propaq 206, even with defibrillation and pacing added.

Airworthy Device With Advanced Monitoring And Defibrillation

The Propaq MD provides an unmatched combination of capabilities that include a large, high-contrast color LCD display capable of viewing up to four waveforms simultaneously, as well as a full 12-lead ECG for on-screen review. It also offers a unique night vision goggle (NVG) mode for military and air medical night time operation. All physiological monitoring parameter values, including heart rate, SpO₂, ETCO₂, respiration, non-invasive blood pressure, two temperatures, and three invasive pressures, are shown in large color-coded numeric formats. The device is capable of monitoring all patients, whether adult, pediatric or neonatal. Alarms are provided for all parameters. The Propaq MD is the only FDA-cleared airworthy defibrillator to provide monitoring of three invasive pressures necessary for treating critical patients during long transports.

Long-Lasting, Rechargeable Battery System

A new battery system and AC power charger provides worldwide land, sea and air operating capability. The system can monitor all physiological parameters, including three invasive pressures and two temperature channels, for over six hours on a single battery charge.

Full Downloadable Data Collection And Trending

In addition to real-time monitoring, the Propaq MD has a full data collection and trending capability. Keys are provided to annotate all ACLS interventions such as intubation, drug administration, and associated ECG and other physiological waveform segments. Full trending data is available on the unit’s display from its integral memory, supporting data collection over 24-hour periods. Trends can include 1,000 time-stamped events and 32 snapshots of treatment. All data can be downloaded to a standard USB flash drive and transferred to electronic medical records using an open architecture XML format. An integrated printer can provide immediate documentation of events and diagnostic ECG traces.

Request more information about the Propaq MD

Thermogard XP Temperature Management System

Precise and Rapid Control

The Thermogard XP^® Temperature Management System provides the next level of precise and rapid control of your patient's core temperature for both cooling and warming applications.

The Thermogard XP System can handle even the most challenging temperature management situations with additional cooling power unmatched by any other method on the market.

The target temperature and rate of temperature change are set on the Thermogard XP system which controls the temperature of the saline flowing within the Alsius Catheter balloons.

Patient and system data are automatically sampled every 60 seconds and a change in patient temperature as small as 0.01°C triggers an immediate adjustment in the saline temperature.

View current patient and system data on the system display or synchronize with your hospital monitor.	Track patient and system data and electronically transfer to the patient's file.

Same User-Friendly Interface And Functionality As CoolGard 3000

For hospitals currently using a CoolGard 3000^® System, bringing a Thermogard XP system on-line will be fast and easy.

• Identical operation and user interface
• No difference in disposable inventory - same start-up kits/samecatheters can be used on both systems
• No need to retrain nursing staff

ZOLL AED PRO

AED Pro Automated External Defibrillator

One Tough Defibrillator. For One Tough Job.

Whether used in a hospital or in the field, the new ZOLL AED Pro^®is designed to perform in any environment. The AED Pro provides the ruggedness, portability, and advanced functionality thatprofessional rescuers and services require from an AED.

The Most Rugged, Full-Featured AED For Professional Rescuers

Designed with advanced capabilities, the ZOLL AED Pro supports Basic Life Support as well as Advanced Life Support professionals. This advanced AED features a high-resolution LCD display that allows responders to visualize a patient's ECG while utilizing a 3-lead monitoring cable.

Unique to ZOLL AEDs is a real-time feedback mechanism, known as Real CPR Help^®, which allows rescuers to see and hear how well they are performing the rate and depth of chest compressions during CPR. Real CPR Help, includes a metronome set at the AHA recommended 100 bpm and a screen display which helps rescuers achieve optimum rate and depth of compression levels through audible and/or visual prompts.

For the professional rescuer the AED Pro now offers the ability to view a patient's underlying ECG rhythm with See Thru CPR^®.  When the AED Pro is in manual mode and CPR chest compressions are being performed, See-Thru CPR is activated.  See-Thru CPR reduces interruptions by allowing clinicians to see organized electrical activity while CPR compressions are being performed by filtering out compression artifact ("noise").  This allows rescuers the ability to see a patient's underlying cardiac rhythm during resuscitation efforts and eliminates the need to stop compressions to see if defibrillation was successful.

ZOLL AED Pro Features:

• Superior AED design and rubber over-molds are built to withstand harsh environments.
• Real CPR Help for rate and depth of chest compressions during CPR using ZOLL's unique one-piece CPR-D-padz^®.
• See-Thru CPR allows a rescuer to view a patient's underlying ECG rhythm while performing CPR.
• Exceptionally resistant to dust and water jets (IP55 Rating)
• Only AED in the industry to withstand a 1.5-meter drop test, making it suitable to withstand the rough treatment typically found in an emergency medical environment.
• Available as semi-automatic only or semi-automatic with manual override for ALS professionals.
• Built-in internal memory and external USB memory technology allows expanded data storage capacity, and maximum flexibility for data management and transfer.
• Electrodes and battery compatibility with ZOLL M Series^®, E Series^® and R Series^® professional defibrillators.
• ECG monitoring with 3-lead cable and high-quality display.
• Unrivaled battery options (long-life disposable or rechargeable) that meet your specific needs.
• Easy unit configuration through ZOLL's administration software.
• Intelligent pediatric capability. 
• 2010 Guidelines-ready.

ZOLL Real CPR Help

The 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care make it clear—in most emergencies, the quality of CPR provided by the rescuer can make the difference between life and death.

What if you knew real-time how well you are performing CPR?
What if a defibrillator could tell you that you are doing good chest compressions?
What if you could capture all that data for CPR review, training and analysis?

Can all this be possible? With ZOLL products the answer is yes, today.
ZOLL was the first to introduce technology to help improve CPR performance in 2002. ZOLL calls this technology Real CPR Help®, which is a standard feature on all of ZOLL’s defibrillators. This gives rescuer the best real-time feedback to optimize the patient’s opportunity for a return to spontaneous circulation.

With ZOLL products, all rescuers will get the following feedback and prompting for help in providing effective manual CPR.

Compression Depth Indicator
Consistently achieve the depth of cardiac compression according to the AHA recommended depth of 1.5 to 2 inches.

Compression Rate Indicator
Easily achieve the compression rate of 100 CPM through a metronome beep that is easy to follow.

Lapse Time Indicator
Raises awareness of CPR interruptions by displaying the elapsed time from when the last compression was delivered.

CPR Index™
A ZOLL exclusive which combines the important functions of compression rate, depth and interruption times all into one visual indicator. Maintaining maximum value (full indicator) guarantees performance to AHA Guidelines.

Audio/Message Prompting
Voice and message prompting helps the rescuer achieve optimal CPR compressions. Feedback such as “PUSH HARDER” helps accomplish quality compressions quickly, resulting in a reinforcing message, “GOOD COMPRESSIONS”. To minimize CPR idle time, “CONTINUE CPR” is another important feedback reminder.

Data Transmission
All our product lines have the capability to transmit CPR data, offering the ability for complete resuscitation review and playback.

Real CPR Help is accomplished with our quick and easy to apply OneStep™ Electrode Pads and CPR-D Padz^®. There is no compromise to code readiness with cumbersome extra electrodes to manage and position on the patient before you get valuable real CPR data.

The Ultimate CPR Help
Until now, there has been no practical adjunct to manual CPR. ZOLL is the first and only company to offer a solution in 2003 with the AutoPulse^® Non-invasive Cardiac Support Pump. Its unique load-distributing LifeBand^® squeezes a wide surface area of the chest, helping to move more blood more effectively than is possible with human hands. As a result, victims receive consistent high-quality chest compressions that improve blood flow, minimize no-flow time and increase the likelihood of survival. Further, adding the AutoPulse to your “code” team will free up personnel for other critical tasks. The AutoPulse is completely integrated for use with ZOLL’s defibrillators, electrodes and data management systems. Learn more about the AutoPulse.

For ZOLL, it’s about offering technology for real help when rescuers need it most. Whether it’s helping you with manual CPR, automating the delivery of cardiac compressions, or using data to help improve performance, at ZOLL, we believe that our technology will help rescuers to be more efficient and effective when it counts most.