We participated in the design of a wearable defibrillator vest used to prevent sudden cardiac arrest. The main design goal was to keep sensors in steady contact with an active patient's skin while maintaining comfort and clean-ability.
The vest holds sensors against the chest to detect a life-threatening heart arrhythmia. When a sensor is triggered, therapeutic electrodes in the garment automatically deliver life-saving rhythmic electric pulses without the need for a physician's intervention. We played a critical role in the research and development of the garment and accompanying hardware, answering the perceptual and ergonomic needs of the widely varied populations who will use it.