San Francisco-based Avive announced Monday that it has raised $22 million in Series A funding to develop its smart AED (automated external defibrillator) technology and connectivity platform in an effort to reduce the risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). of deaths. Catalyst Health Ventures and Questa Capital co-led the round with repeat investor Laerdal Million Lives Fund.
Avive’s AED devices are combined with a data-driven software platform for emergency response. The goal is to provide AED assistance to people experiencing cardiac arrest while waiting for emergency medical services (EMS) to arrive.
During cardiac arrest, every minute counts because every minute a person does not receive an AED shock or CPR reduces the chance of survival by 7-10%, According to the company. Avive expects its Doordash-style AED deliveries to arrive faster than the current EMS response time of 8-12 minutes. Press Releasesand reduce the time a person waits before getting help by a few minutes.
Here’s how it works:
- Someone lost consciousness, so someone called 911
- 911 dispatchers locate Avive AEDs near people using interactive maps (think Uber car driver feature near me) as AED devices are strategically placed throughout the city, including households and people’s wallets, cars, bags, etc.
- 911 dispatchers use voice commands to contact bystanders near the nearest AED via the Avive AED device
- The 911 dispatcher instructs the person to bring the AED device to the person in need. The 911 dispatcher then instructed bystanders to use the Avive AED on the person until EMS arrived.
Avive claims it all happened within four minutes, calling their pilot project 4 min city. View demo here.
Avive Connect AED supports rapid bystander intervention.
“Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming more than 350,000 lives each year. Rapid intervention with CPR and shocks from AEDs have been shown to save many more lives. However, quick access to AEDs and knowledge of their use remains a challenge,” Darshana Zaveri of Catalyst Health Ventures said in a statement.
Avive sees itself as an improvement on existing AEDs across the city, as it provides an interactive version that not only locates the nearest AED, but also guides bystanders to deliver it to those in need and deploy potentially life-saving equipment. In particular, Avive believes it is working to reach communities of lower socioeconomic status and those with historically poorer outcomes due to race, age or other factors.
“We envision a world where the odds of surviving a cardiac arrest emergency are not 1 in 10,” Avive co-founder and CEO Sameer Jafri said in a statement. “Technology can improve the odds, especially if It’s deployed in a thoughtful and data-driven way. We want to bring affordable smart AEDs where they’re needed most, and give these communities the tools to take life-saving steps even before first responders arrive. With this investment, our goal is not only within reach, but is shaping a new paradigm where death doesn’t have to be an expectation.”
The company is already piloting its smart AED devices in select cities, including Jackson, Tennessee, and Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
The device is awaiting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Photo: Avive
