Sbir phase II: a multimodal integrated system for improved cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CPR Therapeutics Inc. received a $1.25M Cooperative Agreement award dated July 15, 2025, under the National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) program (CFDA 47.084) to develop an advanced automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) system. This Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project builds on prior Phase I success to create a fully integrated, multimodal resuscitation platform that combines precision-controlled chest compressions, optimized electrical countershock delivery, and real-time physiological feedback mechanisms. The system is designed to dynamically adjust treatment protocols to restore spontaneous circulation and address a critical gap in emergency medical technology, where current mechanical CPR devices have not demonstrated significant superiority over manual CPR despite substantial clinical need.

The project, with performance at the company's Putney, Vermont location and completion targeted for June 30, 2027, directly addresses the approximately 650,000 annual cardiac arrest cases in the United States where survival rates remain below 10%. By integrating multiple enhancements to automated CPR devices, the technology aims to optimize return of spontaneous circulation, improve neurological outcomes, and establish a new standard of care in pre-hospital resuscitation. The anticipated commercial impact includes strengthening the continuum of life-saving interventions from field to hospital settings while potentially reducing healthcare costs associated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treatment.

Abstract

The broader/commercial potential of this small business innovation research (sbir) phase II project is a novel integrated system to improve survival rates and long-term outcomes in patients experiencing cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of death globally, with survival rates remaining low despite timely intervention. In the US each year over 600,000 patients require CPR, with poor outcomes a major unmet medical need. By integrating multiple enhancements to automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) devices including external defibrillation, this novel system aims to optimize the return of spontaneous circulation and neurological measures and improve survival rates and long-term patient outcomes. This new platform in resuscitation equipment is anticipated to restore circulation and establish a new standard-of-care to improve public health and survival rates. The commercial impact is a strengthened continuum of life-saving interventions from the field to the hospital with a leading innovation to emergency medical technologies. This small business innovation research (sbir) phase II project seeks to advance a fully automated CPR system for improving blood flow and provide enhanced electrical countershock performance as needed. This project addresses a major critical challenge with mechanical CPR devices which have not demonstrated significant superiority over manual CPR, a minimally effective standard of care. The proposed system combines precision-controlled chest compressions, optimized electrical countershock, and real-time physiological feedback to dynamically adjust treatment to restore circulation and provide defibrillation as needed. The technology development activities will expand on the company?s phase one award and successful early-stage prototype for a novel automated chest compression system. The proposed phase II activities will further product technology development, including biomonitoring and external defibrillation integration, conduct safety testing, complete interface development and provide preclinical validation in an animal model. The project will prepare the product in accordance with medical device standards and requirements for eventual clinical trials and approval. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.