Origins
Hidalgo, a Cambridge based product design company, formed in 1997, has developed Equivital in co-operation with the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. Hidalgo specializes in medical device design and radio communications, and has customers and suppliers in Europe, the US and the Far East. The emphasis is on designing products for medium and high volume production runs.
Equivital Product Shot

Equivital physiological welfare monitoring system

EquivitalTM - Paramedics and First Responders

In an alternative usage model, the device may be used as a very small and light vital signs monitor, carried by paramedics for use when monitoring casualties in the line of duty. In this mode of use the device can be connected by standard ECG electrode connectors or via a single adhesive patch. The vital signs may be monitored locally or, as with other applications, the data may be sent back to a triage centre or to a local field hospital monitoring point to ease the management of multiple casualties.

First Aiders

In addition, some “first responder” systems are operated by trained members of the general public to provide rapid support to a casualty prior to the dispatch and arrival of paramedic services.

As well as having a defibrillator, the First Responder would have an EquivitalRegistered TradeMark which, once attached via sticky pads to the patient, can transmit full disclosure data via a mobile telephone to a medic in a triage centre.

This would allow medical advice to be given to the First Responder whilst an ambulance arrives.