- Brand Deep-Dive · Rescue Ready Self-Test
Powerheart G5 — the AED that tests itself daily.
- FDA-approved via PMA
- 8-year warranty + Rescue Ready guarantee
- Daily self-test · IntelliSense universal pads
- Direct Answer
- ⭐ Editor's Pick · Low-Touch Programs
Powerheart G5 — the AED for facilities that can't commit to monthly inspections.
- Company Facts
Who is Cardiac Science?
Founded
1991
Washington State, USA
Headquarters
Waukesha, WI
USA · Manufactured on-site
Parent Company
ZOLL Medical
Acquired 2018
Ultimate Parent
Asahi Kasei
TSE: 3407 · Japan
Current Line
Powerheart G5
Only active model
US List Price
$2,157
Authorized distributor
Warranty
8 Years
+ Rescue Ready guarantee
Industry
Med Devices
Cardiology
Sources
Corporate facts verified from Asahi Kasei Annual Report FY2024 and the 2018 ZOLL Medical acquisition announcement. FDA approval status is verified monthly at the FDA PMA database[3]. Pricing verified against authorized US distributor list rates within 30 days[5].
⚡ Editorial Methodology · Since 2024
How we verify every Cardiac Science claim — 4 primary sources.
01 · FDA PMA DATABASE
Approval Status
Powerheart G5 FDA approval status verified monthly against the FDA Premarket Approval database. Confirmed active for lay-rescuer indications.
02 · FDA MAUDE
Adverse Event History
Manufacturer + User Facility Device Experience database reviewed for every reported incident since first approval, weighted against install base.
03 · CARDIAC SCIENCE IFU
Specs · Rescue Ready · IntelliSense
Rescue Ready diagnostic cycle, IntelliSense pad system, and warranty terms sourced from Cardiac Science Instructions for Use documentation with issue dates on file.
04 · AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR
Current US Pricing
List prices verified within the last 30 days from authorized US distributors only. Non-authorized reseller pricing excluded.
- The Lineup
The FDA-approved Powerheart G5 — Cardiac Science's flagship for 2026.
Editor's Pick
Powerheart G5
Self-test
Daily · Rescue Ready
Pads
IntelliSense · Universal
Warranty
8 years + guarantee
Weight
5.7 lbs
Cardiac Science's flagship. Daily automatic self-test on battery, capacitor, and electronics. IntelliSense pads work on adults or pediatric via rescue key — no separate pad set. STAR biphasic waveform. Bilingual English/Spanish voice prompts. Medical Device Rescue Ready guarantee if maintained per specification.
Sources
Prices from authorized US distributor list rates[5] verified within the last 30 days. FDA approval status re-verified monthly against the FDA PMA database[3]. Bystander AED intervention within 3 minutes of collapse produces the strongest survival gain — AHA Circulation 2020 Guidelines[1].
Powerheart G5 Consumables
Adult · Universal
Cardiac Science IntelliSense Defibrillation Pads (Adult)
Pediatric
Cardiac Science IntelliSense Pediatric Rescue Kit
Battery · Intellisense
Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 Battery
- Why Powerheart Wins
Built for the AED program with no dedicated program manager.
Every AED brand can shock a heart. What separates Powerheart is the failure mode it was designed against. Most AED failures at the moment of rescue are not device defects — they are consumables that quietly expired while nobody was watching the calendar[4]. Facilities with no dedicated program manager (small offices, volunteer-run nonprofits, distributed retail chains) fail the monthly readiness check almost universally.
Cardiac Science built Rescue Ready around that reality. Every 24 hours the G5 runs internal diagnostics on battery voltage, capacitor charge, and electronics. Weekly a full-system test cycles the capacitor. The result — a green status indicator on the front panel that either says “ready” or does not. A facility manager glancing at the wall cabinet can verify readiness in one second, without opening the door.
The Medical Device Rescue Ready guarantee stakes Cardiac Science’s brand on that reliability. If the G5 fails to operate during a rescue attempt while it has been maintained per specification, Cardiac Science replaces the device at no cost[6]. This unique lifetime rescue guarantee is worth reading before you disqualify the G5 on price alone — no other FDA-approved brand offers it.
- Editorial Verdict
Where Powerheart wins and where it loses.
- ✓ Wins
Where Powerheart leads
- Daily Rescue Ready self-test. Automatic 24-hour diagnostic on battery, capacitor, electronics — no monthly manual inspection needed.
- Medical Device Rescue Ready guarantee. Only FDA-approved AED with a lifetime rescue guarantee that replaces the unit if it fails during a rescue while maintained.
- IntelliSense universal pads. One pad set works adult or pediatric via rescue key — no separate pediatric pad SKU.
- Bilingual English/Spanish voice prompts. Switchable — matters for ADA public-accommodation compliance.
- US-manufactured. Waukesha, Wisconsin facility. Made-in-USA for buy-American procurement policies.
- Under ZOLL Medical umbrella. Long-term support pipeline via Asahi Kasei parent — brand continuity is not a risk.
- ✗ Loses
Where Powerheart falls short
- No real-time CPR depth+rate feedback. Choose ZOLL AED 3 — same corporate family, more feedback.
- No cprINSIGHT no-pause analysis. Choose LIFEPAK CR2 for that.
- One-model line. No touchscreen version, no premium tier, no budget tier — just the G5.
- Higher weight. 5.7 lbs vs 2.4 lbs on HeartSine — not ideal for portable rescue programs.
- Older design. G5 has not seen a major refresh in years. Feature set is stable, not modern.
- Higher price than budget alternatives. $2,157 vs HeartSine 350P at $995. Rescue Ready guarantee narrows but does not close the gap.
- Decision Framework
Should you buy Powerheart? Straight answer.
- ✓ Buy Powerheart If
These sound like your situation
- You cannot commit to monthly readiness inspections. Rescue Ready self-test replaces manual monthly checks.
- You want a lifetime rescue guarantee. Cardiac Science replaces the G5 if it fails during a rescue while maintained per spec — no other FDA-approved brand offers this.
- You need universal pads. IntelliSense pads work adult or pediatric via rescue key — no separate SKU to stock.
- You need bilingual English/Spanish prompts. Switchable — required for many public accommodation ADA scenarios.
- You want US-manufactured. Waukesha, WI facility qualifies for buy-American procurement.
- You run a distributed facility program with no dedicated manager. Powerheart is designed for the lowest-touch operational profile.
- ✗ Skip Powerheart If
Better options exist for these needs
- You need real-time CPR depth+rate feedback. Choose ZOLL AED 3 (same ZOLL corporate family).
- You need cprINSIGHT no-pause analysis. Choose LIFEPAK CR2.
- You’re on a tight budget under $1,500. Choose HeartSine 350P at $995 or recertified Philips OnSite at $1,349.
- You want a video-screen rescue coach. Choose Defibtech VIEW.
- You want a touchscreen dashboard. Choose ZOLL AED 3.
- You need portable / lightweight (<3 lbs). Choose HeartSine 350P at 2.4 lbs.
- True 5-Year Cost
What Powerheart actually costs across 5 years.
| Line item | Cost | Frequency | 5-Yr Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerheart G5 device | $2,157 | One-time | $2,157 |
| IntelliSense Adult Pads | $119 | Every 2 yr (3 sets) | $357 |
| Pediatric Rescue Kit | $189 | One-time (rescue key) | $189 |
| Intellisense Battery | $249 | Every 4 yr (1 set) | $249 |
| Wall cabinet + alarm | $249 | One-time | $249 |
| CPR + AED training (4 staff) | $95/head | Every 2 yr (3 rounds) | $1,140 |
| TRUE 5-YEAR TOTAL | $4,341 | ||
Reality check
The $2,157 sticker becomes ~$4,341 across 5 years — comparable to Philips FRx at $3,999. Where Powerheart wins is the eliminated labor cost of manual monthly readiness inspections[4] — at $50/hour labor and 15 minutes per month per unit, that is roughly $150 per year per device saved. Model your specific spend with the Cost Calculator.
- Powerheart FAQ
Questions buyers ask most about the Powerheart G5.
What is the Powerheart G5?
The Powerheart G5 is an FDA-approved automated external defibrillator manufactured by Cardiac Science Corporation (Waukesha, Wisconsin). Cardiac Science is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZOLL Medical Corporation since 2018. The G5 features Rescue Ready daily self-test, IntelliSense universal adult/pediatric pads via a rescue key, and comes with a Medical Device Rescue Ready guarantee.
Who makes the Powerheart G5?
The Powerheart G5 is manufactured by Cardiac Science Corporation in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Cardiac Science was originally founded in 1991 and has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZOLL Medical Corporation since 2018. ZOLL Medical is itself a subsidiary of Japan-based Asahi Kasei Corporation.
How much does a Powerheart G5 cost?
The Powerheart G5 authorized US distributor list price is approximately $2,157[5]. Replacement IntelliSense pads and battery add roughly $250 per year to model true 5-year cost of ownership. Use the Cost Calculator for your specific spend.
How long does a Powerheart G5 last?
The Powerheart G5 carries an 8-year manufacturer warranty. IntelliSense pads last 2 years, the Intellisense battery lasts approximately 4 years in standby. Cardiac Science also offers a Medical Device Rescue Ready guarantee — if the G5 fails to operate during a rescue while maintained per specifications, Cardiac Science replaces the unit[6].
What is Rescue Ready?
Rescue Ready is Cardiac Science’s daily self-test system. Every day the Powerheart G5 automatically runs internal diagnostics on the battery, capacitor, and electronics — a status indicator on the front panel confirms the device is ready to rescue. Weekly full-system tests provide deeper verification. This eliminates the manual monthly readiness inspection required by most competing AEDs.
What is the Medical Device Rescue Ready guarantee?
Cardiac Science’s Medical Device Rescue Ready guarantee promises that if the Powerheart G5 fails to operate correctly during a rescue attempt while it has been maintained per manufacturer specifications, Cardiac Science will replace the device at no cost. This lifetime rescue guarantee is unique to the Powerheart line among FDA-approved US market AEDs. See our full G5 review for verification workflow.
- Why You Can Trust This Review
Editorial. Verified monthly. Independent of AED manufacturers.
~350K
US SCA Deaths / Year
CDC · OHCA statistics
~70%
Survival With AED <3 Min
AHA · Circulation 2020
Daily
Rescue Ready Self-Test
Cardiac Science IFU · 2026
8 yr
Manufacturer Warranty
+ Rescue Ready guarantee
References
- GuidelineAmerican Heart Association. “2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.” Circulation, October 2020. Bystander AED intervention within 3 minutes of collapse remains the strongest modifiable variable in out-of-hospital SCA survival.
- StatisticsCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. “Heart Disease Facts.” Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest kills approximately 350,000 people in the United States annually. Updated 2024.
- DatabaseU.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Premarket Approval (PMA) Database.” AED systems require FDA PMA approval effective 2016; accessories effective February 2022.
- GuidelineAmerican Heart Association. “Adult Chain of Survival.” Survival from out-of-hospital SCA decreases 7–10 percent for every minute of delay in defibrillation. AED readiness at the moment of rescue is the primary failure mode driving preventable deaths.
- Data sourceAuthorized US distributor list prices verified within 30 days of publication. AED Best Brands editorial pricing methodology at /methodology/. Prices exclude gray-market and unauthorized resellers.
- Spec sheetCardiac Science Powerheart G5 Instructions for Use (IFU) on file. Warranty terms, Rescue Ready diagnostic cycle, IntelliSense pad system specifications, and Medical Device Rescue Ready guarantee terms sourced from primary manufacturer documentation with version and issue date.