posted August 04, 2025

Device proven to be critical in emergency air medical transport of cardiac patients 

STILLWATER, OK, Aug. 4, 2025 – Stillwater-based MediFlight of Oklahoma and its sister bases, Tulsa Life Flight in Okmulgee and Pryor, are reinforcing their commitment to safety and clinical excellence by integrating the ZOLL AutoPulse® NXT automated CPR device into their emergency air medical helicopters. As part of Air Methods, the nation’s leading air medical service provider, MediFlight of Oklahoma and Tulsa Life Flight join a nationwide initiative to integrate this life-saving technology into all of their community-based aircraft nationwide. 

The ZOLL AutoPulse NXT enables air medical clinicians to deliver high-quality, uninterrupted CPR while ensuring their own safety by wearing seat belts through critical phases of flight. It also works in tandem with the existing onboard ventilator to provide the best pre-hospital care during transport. 

“The Zoll AutoPulse delivers consistent chest compressions to patients in active cardiac arrest, allowing our clinicians to meet other medical needs in flight,” said Air Methods Clinical Director Eric Connor. “Its smaller size makes it easier to use in an aircraft where space is at a premium.”  

Since receiving the device, Tulsa Life Flight 2 in Pryor has pre-emptively applied it to five patients in peri-arrest situations where an individual is in an unstable cardiac condition and activated it once in flight. 

“When we activated the device, we were able to achieve ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation) and deliver the patient successfully to the hospital,” said Lee Weems, a flight paramedic with Tulsa Life Flight. “We also carry a Hamilton ventilator on board, and when we couple the ventilator’s CPR mode with the Zoll AutoPulse NXT, our crews can manage in-flight cardiac arrest without becoming task-saturated. We have also conducted training on the device with local EMS crews, so they are prepared for patients needing the device as well.” 

Unlike manual compressions, which can be inconsistent and physically exhausting, the AutoPulse NXT delivers continuous, high-quality CPR without interruption, ensuring a more effective resuscitation process. The device’s innovative design also eliminates the need for removal during patient loading and unloading, allowing seamless transitions while maintaining uninterrupted compressions. Furthermore, its compact size makes it a practical and efficient addition to the program’s life-saving equipment. 

“ZOLL is proud to partner with Air Methods on advancing resuscitation care in their fleet,” said Randy Keaney, Strategic Account Manager of ZOLL Medical. “AutoPulse NXT provides high quality circumferential chest compressions to a wide patient population and can continue CPR from the scene to the ER to the cath lab.” 

This initiative aligns with advancements in emergency cardiac care, including the growing need to transport patients experiencing cardiac arrest to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-capable cardiac facilities. With AutoPulse NXT, MediFlight and Tulsa Life Flight crews can focus on addressing the underlying causes of cardiac arrest rather than the physical demands of manual compressions. 

Air Methods collaborated closely with ZOLL to provide direct feedback during the development of the AutoPulse NXT, which was released in 2024. The rollout of AutoPulse NXT across all Air Methods bases began in April 2025, accompanied by training programs and resources to ensure seamless adoption among clinicians. 

For photos and video of the ZOLL AutoPulse® NXT automated CPR device, including training photos from Tulsa Life Flight, click here.