A pocket-size AED innovation to save more lives

JStories ー A Japanese startup has developed a pocket-size automated external defibrillator (AED) — about the size and weight of an iPhone — that could put life-saving equipment into far more hands. “The new AED is a game changer,” said Dr. Toshio Chiba, a former fetal surgeon and CEO of the startup, Onlinemaster Co., explaining that damage from impaired blood flow to the brain can be drastically reduced when life-saving measures are taken immediately. Chiba spent more than three years refining the device to make it compact, reliable, and easy to use.

A pocket-size AED, right, shown next to a smartphone. The compact device can easily fit into a handbag or shirt pocket    Photo courtesy of Onlinemaster Co. (Same below) — A pocket-size AED, right, shown next to a smartphone. The compact device can easily fit into a handbag or shirt pocket Photo courtesy of Onlinemaster Co. (Same below)

Chiba’s prototype does away with condensers that are usually installed in AEDs. A condenser weighs almost 2 kilograms—eradicating it represents a significant breakthrough. “It is replaced with a unique circuit system designed to freely control the waveform of the electric shock, reducing the intensity on the patient’s body,” he explained. Inventing the portable AED was not a straightforward process. To create the prototype, Chiba said existing devices were taken apart and their limitations were examined before they were rebuilt into a more compact, efficient form. “My innovation highlights the importance of reverse engineering,” he said.

A standard automated external defibrillator (AED) in use during CPR      Source: Envato — A standard automated external defibrillator (AED) in use during CPR Source: Envato

Chiba’s prototype AED is also equipped with double sequential external defibrillation capacity. What this means is that it is capable of delivering two shocks, doubling the capacity of a regular AED, marking a first in the world. Behind the invention is Chiba and his diverse team at Onlinemaster. Launched in 2021, the company works under a collaborative business model with a team consisting of scientists, tech experts and companies—the goal is to develop new medical devices in Japan and reduce reliance on imports.

Outside (left) and inside (right) view of the pocket AED, which includes two electrode pads for quick placement on the chest during a cardiac emergency      Photo courtesy of Onlinemaster Co. (Same below) — Outside (left) and inside (right) view of the pocket AED, which includes two electrode pads for quick placement on the chest during a cardiac emergency Photo courtesy of Onlinemaster Co. (Same below)

Chiba's patented AED innovation is on the cusp of entering the commercial market, after completing animal testing at Toho Medical University in 2023. The prototype represents a significant departure from the current bulky orange-colored AEDs available in Japan. Weighing between 200 and 300 grams, the new AED can be tucked into a handbag or shirt pocket, and its target users include women and children.

The pocket-size AED was developed by taking apart existing devices to study their limitations and rebuild them in a more compact, efficient form

Data regarding AED use in Japan shows the criticality of his innovation, said Chiba. According to the Japan AED Foundation, just 4.3% of the country's AEDs are used on-site, resulting in a 3% survival rate. That means only three out of 100 persons survive a cardiac failure. Emergencies are also exacerbated by the fact that an ambulance takes an average of at least seven to 10 minutes to arrive at the scene, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

“The situation is particularly disturbing in Japan when you consider the fact we have the highest AEDs in use in the world,” said Chiba. Almost 1.6 million units were sold in 2023 — the highest in the world, according to Japan’s Ministry of Health.

Chiba’s pocket AED was displayed in July at the Japanese innovations section at the government’s Japan External Trade Organization pavilion at the Osaka Exposition. The product resembles a slim vertical box with a flap that opens to reveal two electrode pads to be placed on the victim’s chest. “We designed it so that even someone with no medical training can use it immediately,” Chiba said.

Toshio Chiba, a former fetal surgeon and CEO of Onlinemaster Co., poses during an interview with JStories     Photo by Suvendrini Kakuchi <br> — Toshio Chiba, a former fetal surgeon and CEO of Onlinemaster Co., poses during an interview with JStories Photo by Suvendrini Kakuchi

The idea for the groundbreaking invention was planted when Chiba was returning home one evening and saw a man clutching his chest, collapsed at a train station. The doctor rushed to administer CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) as he waited for station staff to bring an AED. The man survived but the delayed response revealed the risks faced by the public in medical emergencies, which Chiba said he has repeatedly encountered in Japan. “My dream was to bring a desperately needed change,” he said.

In line with that ambition, Chiba set up the Medical Innovation Consortium in 2012, a group that brings together doctors, researchers, and engineers to apply new technologies to healthcare. The consortium not only develops medical devices but also promotes public training as part of its mission. “Bringing innovation to people is critical for successful change,” said Chiba.