LIFEPAK 1000 defibrillator - portable battery powered semi-automated model that can be operated in either of three modes: Automated external defibrillator (AED), manual defibrillator and electrocardiographic (ECG) mode. The defibrillator is intended for indoor or outdoor use in a wide variety of hospital and pre-hospital settings including ground and air ambulances, physician's offices, aircraft, stadiums and specialty medical clinics. ECG monitoring is intended for use on conscious and unconscious patients of all ages for the purpose of ECG rhythm recognition and heart rate monitoring. Affected part numbers: 320371500021 through 320371500038, 320371500043, 320371500044, 320371500046, 320371500048, 320371500050, 320371500056, 320371500058, 320371500063, and 320371500067.

Potential for the display screen to dim and eventually go blank. The risk to patient is a delay in defibrillation therapy if the defibrillator was needed in a cardiac arrest situation. Death or permanent impairment can occur if the user fails to deliver a defibrillation shock or defibrillation is delayed.

On February 27, 2008 the firm sent a URGENT MEDICAL DEVICE NOTIFICATION letter to consignees advising of the issue. The letter states the firm is performing accelerated function testing and that a follow up notification will be sent if the firm's final test results indicate further action is necessary. The letter recommends consignees "Continue to use your LIFEPAK 1000 defibrillator/monitor Set your device to Auto-Analyze Contact Physio-Control immediately if your display begins to dim or goes blank. What to do if the display goes blank while in use: 1. Continue to use the device to treat the patient. (voice prompts and tones function normally). 2. If the device is not set to Auto-Analyze use the lower right soft key to select Analyze from the display screen... 3. All other buttons are labeled outside the display screen." If you have any question contact technical support at 1-800-442-1142 - option 5 or visit the web site at www.physio-control-notices.com/LP1000.