Stryker Lucas 3 CPR Device - Issue Report

Report To:    Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board

From:               Robert Smith, Chief of Paramedic Services

Date:                October 16, 2025

Re:                    Stryker Lucas 3 CPR Device - Issue Report

Executive Summary

The evolution of patient care in the prehospital environment continues to include new modalities that are based of evidenced-based practice and intended to improve patient outcomes. Over recent years, the methods for CPR delivery has changed and technologies have become more available to assist with effective treatment. Most paramedic services have deployed CPR assistive devices recently. Paramedic Services has performed a year long trial of the Lucas 3 device and are budgeting a lease program budgeted for rollout in 2026.

Background

Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB is responsible for the provision of Paramedic Services across 45,000 square kilometers of Manitoulin and Sudbury Districts. Paramedic Services deploys from 12 Paramedic Service Station locations. There are only 4 community hospitals within the districts, meaning that 8 paramedic resources must transport their patient(s) significant distances out of their deployed community

In 2024, Paramedic Services responded to more than 11,000 urgent and emergent calls for service, including 47 sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) calls.

Clinical/Operational Factors

With revised medical direction requiring paramedics to attempt resuscitation for at least 20 minutes before facilitating transportation, and the evolution of CPR modalities to include much faster compression, the prehospital treatment of SCA patients has evolved to place significant importance on effective CPR. The American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines call for a compression rate of 100-120 per minute. Academic studies have universally concluded that rapid defibrillation and effective CPR are essential to helping improve survivability of a SCA event.

While high-quality CPR has been shown as essential for successful resuscitation of a SCA, responder fatigue has been found to be a challenge to the ideal outcomes. Several studies have shown that CPR assistance devices had a positive impact on resuscitation of SCA patients.

An academic review of CPR during the transport phase of Paramedic Services revealed that CPR assistive devices are more suitable in meeting the AHA guidelines, while the devices also permit paramedics to remain secured in the moving vehicle. While Legislation permits Paramedics to be unbelted when performing necessary medical interventions, it remains the responsibility of the employer to put in place processes and devices that can mitigate risk to employees. A CPR assistive device permits paramedics to remain secured while effective chest compressions are performed.

Paramedic Services Comparators

There has been a recent migration toward the deployment of CPR assistive devices in Paramedic Services. Throughout North Ontario, most paramedic services have implemented deployment of these devices. The majority of the services have purchased the Stryker Lucas 3 product, while some have purchased the Zoll Auto Pulse. Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB is one of a very few paramedic services that have not deployed CPR assistive devices.

Trial

In 2024, Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB purchased 3 Stryker Lucas 3 devices to trial. This was done judiciously as several Zoll Auto Pulse devices had been deployed around 2011. That system rollout was not successful, and the devices were removed at end of life in 2018. The feedback from Paramedics regarding the Lucas 3 trial has been extremely well received by staff.

Conclusion

Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB Paramedic Services have prepared the 2026 budget to include a 5 year lease with Stryker for 13 Lucas 3 devices. This design will permit the placement of a device on each of the deployed vehicles, and one mechanical spare.