PRESS RELEASES   Oklahoma scientist’s ‘accident’ may be a real life-saver 05/12/2009 BY STEVE LACKMEYER Published: May 12, 2009 | THE OKLAHOMAN It was 10 years ago when Dr. David Albert was in the basement of his Crown Heights home working on a wireless heart monitor he planned to use during surgery for his daughter, Kathryn, when she noticed the fire alarm was chirping. The pair assumed the battery was low, so Albert went upstairs to replace it while his daughter stayed with the heart monitor. It was then, Albert said, that the 13-year-old noticed the monitor was tracking the fire alarm. A new chapter That accident led to a decade-long effort to create a fire alarm clock to benefit the deaf, elderly and others who might not be awakened by traditional sound- or light-based alarms. The effort involved multiple patents, passage through fire codes, electrical inspections and finally manufacturing and distribution. "What began as an accidental discovery has evolved into a new chapter in fire safety technology,” Albert said. "It’s thrilling to see this new technology finally available to people who need it the most.” Albert’s Lifetone HL Bedside Fire Alarm and Clock was released into the market this month. It listens for the sound from standard fire alarms, and then broadcasts its own 520 Hz square-wave signal at the bedside. The Lifetone HL also includes a bed shaker, which produces strong, intermittent vibration. The shaking is designed to aid those with profound or fluctuating hearing loss at 500 Hz and higher who may not reliably hear and wake up to the 520 Hz square-wave signal alone. i2E success story Albert, whose company is based at the Presbyterian Health Foundation Research Park, is no stranger to the world of invention. His work included the wireless heart monitor he was testing 10 years ago with his daughter, who is now a senior at Harvard (he reports her operation went well). At the time, the scientist and expert in biomedical engineering and cardiovascular research headed Data Critical, which went public shortly after his daughter’s surgery. The company was acquired by General Electric in 2001, where he worked until Lifetone’s predecessor, InnovAlarm, was formed in 2004. "Lifetone Technology” is a client of i2E Inc., a state funded nonprofit corporation that mentors many of the state’s new technology-based companies. "Lifetone’s success further demonstrates the diverse technologies that receive support within the Oklahoma startup community,” said Jim Rogers, director of enterprise services at i2E. "Any technology with market value and hard-working, skilled entrepreneurs can find both public and private partners ready to help.” What began as an accidental discovery has evolved into a new chapter in fire safety technology.” Dr. David Albert, Alarm’s inventor BACKGROUND Who will Lifetone benefit? Lifetone officials report an estimated 70 million Americans have high-frequency hearing loss and 44 percent of people with hearing loss do not wake to the sound of standard fire alarms because of their high pitch. "Even though some people might hear their smoke alarm during the day, it may not wake them from sleeping, either due to hearing loss or deep sleep patterns,” said Brenda Battat, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America. "It’s critical that people evaluate their safety needs and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families.” The Lifetone HL is the only UL-Listed fire alarm to use the 520 Hz signal and a bed shaker. The Lifetone HL works with all smoke alarms manufactured since 1999 that are UL certified for the U.S. "About 94 percent of households have working smoke detectors, so it’s time to embark on the next endeavor,” said Kim Bacon, community liaison officer for the West County EMS and Fire Protection District near St. Louis. "We need to identify those who may not be able to wake from a standard smoke alarm and help them find a fire alarm that is right for their needs.” The alarm’s inventor, Dr. David Albert, said ideal customers for the product, which costs about $170, include nursing homes, college dorms and families with young children. STEVE LACKMEYER, BUSINESS WRITER