US UK DEUTSCH ESPAÑOL HOME| CONTACT US Search for: PRODUCTS FORWARD HEARTS RESOURCES REPORTING EVENTS ABOUT US History of Innovation HeartSine: A lifesaving legacy in cardiac defibrillators and mobile defibrillation technology 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s HeartSine co-founder Professor John Anderson (M.Phil., Ph.D. Medical Engineering) was for many years a key member of the Board of Directors and our Chief Technical Officer. In the 1960s, Anderson was approached to start the biomedical engineering group at the Royal Victoria Hospital and headed the effort to produce the world’s first mobile defibrillator to bring the expertise of the hospital to the patient to improve outcomes. The result changed the way emergency care is delivered globally, a legacy which endures to this day. In this video featuring HeartSine co-founder Professor John Anderson, you will learn about the history and inspiration of mobile defibrillation. 1966 Under the medical direction of Dr. Frank Pantridge and Dr. Geddes, the Royal Victoria Hospital-Belfast (RVH) launches the world’s first mobile coronary care unit which utilizes the world’s first portable defibrillator. At 110 pounds, the complete apparatus is difficult to move and cumbersome to operate. However, significant improvements to outcomes of sudden cardiac arrest patients are soon observed.The world’s first Mobile Coronary Care Unit is born. Management of heart attacks outside the hospital is now possible. It soon became obvious, however, that lightweight, battery-operated defibrillators are urgently required if mobile coronary care is to become more widespread. 1967 Professor John Anderson, who later co-founded HeartSine, joins the RVH team. Anderson works in close association with American Optical, an American company, to develop the world’s first truly portable, battery operated defibrillator, weighing 44 pounds–under half the weight of the earlier inverter units. © 2021 HeartSine Technologies LLC. All Rights Reserved. See Terms, Conditions & Privacy Policy. Home| Products| Forward Hearts| Support| Reporting Events| About Us| Contact Us MANUFACTURER HeartSine Technologies, Ltd. 207 Airport Road West Belfast, BT3 9ED Northern Ireland United Kingdom Tel: +44 28 9093 9400 Fax: +44 28 9093 9401 AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY Stryker European Operations Limited Anngrove, IDA Business & Technology Park Carrigtwohill, Co Cork T45HX08 Ireland