In the UK, 72% of cardiac arrests occur in private homes, yet defibrillators are rarely available, costing lives. Research from Warwick Medical School, conducted for the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) and the British Heart Foundation (BHF), highlights that survival chances drop by 10% with every minute that passes without defibrillation. A new lightweight defibrillator designed for household use could help change this outcome.
Joule Medical, a Danish start-up founded in 2021 as a spin-out from OOONO A/S, is developing what it says will be the world’s smallest automated external defibrillator (AED). The device, named Joule, weighs just one pound, can fit into a handbag, and is designed to be affordable and easy to use. Joule Medical has secured 13.4 million EUR in investment and will launch a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube in August 2025, with the product expected on the market in 2027.
Jacob Løth Christensen, CEO of Joule Medical, explained: “We aim to democratiSe heart defibrillators and make it a common household item, much like first aid kits.” Current AEDs are generally designed for public or professional settings, leaving homes without access. The UK’s average ambulance response time is eight minutes, a critical delay in cardiac arrest. Christian Walther Øyrabø, co-founder and CEO of OOONO, stressed: “More people today are learning CPR, but that can only extend the time a cardiac arrest victim can survive until a defibrillator is deployed. We believe the next wave will be more private defibrillators.” The BHF notes that CPR combined with early defibrillation can double or triple survival chances.
Joule is expected to cost about 850 GBP, less than many AEDs currently available. Its two-button interface is designed to be intuitive under stress. Christensen remarked: “There’s no point in adding a lot of complicated buttons and instructions. When you’re faced with an unconscious person, the brain isn’t primed to figure out complex controls.” The device’s durable shell case also makes it suitable for use at home, in the car, or while travelling.
Development has been shaped by stringent EU Medical Device Regulations. Øyrabø explained: “We have had a hard-headed approach to product development, made necessary to live up to strict requirements for medical equipment. We had to go through a heavy approval process and live up to the EU’s MDR-regulations.” To meet these standards, Joule Medical worked with European partners, including a German firm with more than 25 years of defibrillator experience and a global electronics manufacturer. The electrodes are approved as Class 2B under MDR, and the final product is close to approval.
Christensen added: “Today, the market is dominated by experienced players focusing on professional and public environments. Our goal is not to replace them but complement them with a product designed specifically for private households.” Surveys suggest strong interest in personal AEDs, with the market expected to double between 2022 and 2032. The RCUK emphasises that defibrillation within three minutes can yield survival rates of up to 75%. By making AEDs portable and affordable, Joule Medical hopes to bring life-saving technology into more homes and save thousands of lives each year.
