LIFEPAK CR2 at a glance
The LIFEPAK CR2 is a public-access AED that Stryker still sells and supports. The FDA approved it in December 2018, it went on sale in the US in February 2019, and it comes in fully automatic and semi-automatic versions with optional Wi-Fi or cellular reporting.
| Detail | LIFEPAK CR2 |
|---|---|
| Made by | Stryker (originally Physio-Control) |
| Versions | Fully automatic or semi-automatic; USB, Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi plus cellular |
| Adult pads | QUIK-STEP electrode tray, 4-year shelf life |
| Children | CHILD MODE button, same pads (under 8 or under 55 lb) |
| Battery | Lithium battery, up to 4 years installed |
| Self-test | Daily, weekly and monthly, and at every power-on |
| Ready indicator | Green light flashing every 6 seconds |
| CPR help | cprCOACH metronome and prompts; cprINSIGHT rhythm analysis during CPR |
| Storage range | 59 to 95°F (15 to 35°C) |
| FDA approval | December 21, 2018 (P170018) |
Every CR2 has a micro-USB port, and some also have Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi and cellular; a label in the battery compartment says which yours has. Connected units report to Stryker's LIFELINKcentral AED Program Manager. It emails the owner 60 and 30 days before the battery or electrodes expire, and flags a unit that fails a self-test or misses its monthly check-in. Over Wi-Fi the CR2 can also stream rhythm and shock data to responders during a rescue; cellular units send their data only afterward.
The CR2 weighs 4.5 lb (2.0 kg) with electrodes and battery and is rated IP55 against dust and water jets. Stryker expects it to last 8 years and backs it with an 8-year warranty. If you bought through a distributor, that distributor can see your LIFELINKcentral account and its notices unless you ask Stryker to turn that off.
LIFEPAK CR2 fully automatic and LIFEPAK CR2 semi-automatic: how they differ
- LIFEPAK CR2 fully automatic: It gives the shock on its own when one is needed, so the rescuer has no button to press.
- LIFEPAK CR2 semi-automatic: When a shock is advised the shock button flashes and the rescuer presses it; both versions come with USB only, Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi plus cellular, and take the same electrode tray and battery.
Other Stryker LIFEPAK (formerly Physio-Control) models we cover: LIFEPAK 1000, LIFEPAK CR Plus and EXPRESS and LIFEPAK 500.
LIFEPAK CR2 pads
The LIFEPAK CR2 uses QUIK-STEP electrodes, catalog number 11101-000021, which sit pre-connected in a sealed tray under the lid. Stryker gives the tray a 4-year shelf life; replace it by its Use By date, once it has been opened, or if its seal is broken.
The QUIK-STEP tray sits under the lid with its cable already attached. Pulling its red handle breaks the seal, so if the handle is pulled outside an emergency, the gel starts drying out and the tray has to be replaced right away. Replace it, too, once its Use By date has passed (printed as YYYY-MM-DD beside an hourglass symbol) and after any rescue in which the tray was opened, even if the pads were never used.
When you fit a new tray, press only on its front corners; pushing on the middle can damage the seal. QUIK-STEP pads must never be plugged into a LIFEPAK 500. Stryker doesn't say whether the 4-year shelf life counts from manufacture, so the printed Use By date is the one to track.
Using the LIFEPAK CR2 on children
Yes, for children 1 year and older. If the child is younger than 8 or lighter than 55 pounds (25 kg), press CHILD MODE: the CR2 lowers its shock energy and switches to child CPR prompts, using the same QUIK-STEP pads.
The CR2 is meant for patients 1 year and older, so it isn't for infants under 1. For a child younger than 8 or lighter than 55 lb (25 kg), press the CHILD MODE button. The AED drops its default shocks from 200, 300 and 360 joules to 50, 75 and 90 joules (an owner can set the child levels anywhere from 35 to 90), and its CPR coaching switches to child prompts.
You don't swap pads for a child, so there's no separate pediatric part to buy, store or track. Keeping one in-date QUIK-STEP tray in the AED covers adults and children alike.
For the general rules on child pads, ages and placement, see our guide to pediatric AED pads.
LIFEPAK CR2 battery
The LIFEPAK CR2 runs on a non-rechargeable lithium battery, catalog number 11141-000165. Put it in within 1 year of its manufacture date; it then lasts up to 4 years, but never more than 5 years from the day it was made.
The battery label shows its manufacture date as YYYY-MM-DD, and Stryker's symbols also mark an expiration date on it. Install a new battery within 1 year of the manufacture date to get the full 4 years of standby. After that, its limit is 4 years from installation or 5 years from manufacture, whichever comes first, so record both dates.
When new, the battery gives roughly 166 shocks at 200 joules, or about 800 minutes switched on. When it runs low, the readiness light stops flashing; roughly 6 shocks at 360 joules and 30 minutes of use remain at that point, so replace it at once. Each time the lid opens, the CR2 switches on and uses some charge, so keep it closed except to check or use the AED. A December 2020 Stryker supplement adds that a missing lid or lid magnet can run the battery down early. Before disposing of the AED, take the battery out and recycle it separately, never in household trash.
How other models compare is in our AED battery replacement guide.
LIFEPAK CR2 part numbers and shelf life
The CR2 has 2 replaceable parts, the QUIK-STEP electrode tray and the lithium battery. Here are Stryker's catalog numbers and shelf lives for both.
| Part | Part number | Shelf life | Replace |
|---|---|---|---|
| QUIK-STEP electrodes Adults and children (Child Mode), in a pre-connected tray | 11101-000021 | 4 years | By the Use By date, once the tray is opened, or if the seal is broken |
| LIFEPAK CR2 lithium battery Battery (non-rechargeable) | 11141-000165 | 4 years installed (install within 1 year of manufacture); 5 years from manufacture at most | 4 years after installation or 5 years after manufacture, whichever comes first, or when the readiness light stops flashing |
Storage affects both parts. Stryker says to keep the CR2 between 59 and 95°F (15 and 35°C), and long-term storage near the top of that range shortens battery and electrode life. The AED and pads can ride out temperatures as low as -22°F (-30°C) or as high as 140°F (60°C) for up to a week; longer than that cuts the electrodes' shelf life.
Need replacements? Total AEDs, AED Log’s sister store, sells pads, batteries and the AED itself for the LIFEPAK CR2. Any authorized distributor works; the FDA advises buying AED accessories only from authorized sources.
LIFEPAK CR2 self-test and status indicator
The LIFEPAK CR2 tests itself daily, weekly and monthly, and each time it's turned on. A green light flashing every 6 seconds means it's ready; no flash and a tone every 15 minutes mean it needs attention.
Besides the daily, weekly and monthly tests, the CR2 checks its internal electronics every time it's switched on. Fitting a new battery also starts a self-test that can take up to 2 minutes and ends with 3 tones; keep the lid closed until you hear them. The readiness light shows through a small hole in the lid. It flashes green every 6 seconds when the AED is ready and stays lit while the AED is on.
If the CR2 needs attention, the light goes dark and the AED beeps an alert every 15 minutes. The alert is on by default, though an owner can switch it off. To find out what's wrong, open the lid, wait for the voice prompts, then within 10 seconds hold LANGUAGE and CHILD MODE together. The AED answers DEVICE READY or DEVICE NOT READY and says whether to replace the tray, replace the battery or call for service. Connected units report a failed self-test right away.
If the indicator ever shows a problem, our guide to AED self-test failures and status lights covers what to do first.
LIFEPAK CR2 maintenance checklist
Stryker asks owners to confirm the CR2 is ready at least once a month, by looking at the readiness light or, for connected units, through its online program manager. Check the electrode and battery dates and the lid at the same time.
- The readiness light flashes green every 6 seconds, and no alert tone is sounding.
- The QUIK-STEP tray is sealed, its red handle hasn't been pulled, and its Use By date hasn't passed.
- The battery is within 4 years of installation and 5 years of its manufacture date.
- The lid is on and closed, with its magnet in place.
- Connected units: LIFELINKcentral shows the AED checked in this month with no failed self-test.
- The AED is stored between 59 and 95°F (15 and 35°C), and the case is clean and undamaged.
After the LIFEPAK CR2 is used
- Turn the AED off and clean it.
- Fit a new QUIK-STEP electrode tray, even if the pads weren't used.
- Close the lid and confirm the readiness light flashes every 6 seconds.
Print our free AED inspection checklist to record each check, or read the full AED maintenance guide.
LIFEPAK CR2 recalls
The FDA's recall database shows 2 recalls of the LIFEPAK CR2 itself: a 2021 notice about missing lid magnets draining the battery, and a 2025 notice about units Stryker had serviced. Both were still open when we checked.
| Date | Product | Class | What it’s about and what to do | Status | FDA record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2025 | LIFEPAK 1000 and CR2 units serviced August 2022 to October 2023 | II | Service records lacked evidence of the inspection. Return Stryker’s reply form. | Open | Z-2498-2025, Z-2499-2025 |
| Jan 14, 2021 | LIFEPAK CR2 | II | A missing lid magnet can drain the battery. Check that the readiness light flashes every 6 seconds. | Open | Z-1189-2021 |
Every AED recall, by manufacturer, is on our AED recall list.
How AED Log tracks the LIFEPAK CR2
In AED Log you pick the LIFEPAK CR2 from the built-in catalog, record its pads and battery with their lot numbers and dates, and get a warning before either expires, plus a monthly inspection reminder.
Each pad set and battery is its own record with its own expiration date, so a pad set or battery never lapses unnoticed. Choose the part from the catalog and its shelf life fills in the expiration date for you; you can always type the date printed on the package instead. Alerts go out by email, Slack, Teams or Discord to the people responsible for that site, and the monthly inspection checklist asks about the status indicator, the pads and the battery. See pad and battery expiration tracking and AED management for more, or see every AED model.
LIFEPAK CR2 FAQ
How long do LIFEPAK CR2 pads last?
Stryker gives the QUIK-STEP electrode tray (11101-000021) a 4-year shelf life. The same tray serves adults and children. Replace it by the Use By date printed next to the hourglass symbol, once it has been opened, or if its seal is broken.
How long does the LIFEPAK CR2 battery last?
The LIFEPAK CR2 lithium battery (11141-000165) lasts up to 4 years after installation if it's installed within 1 year of manufacture, and never more than 5 years from manufacture. Replace it sooner if the readiness light stops flashing.
Can you use the LIFEPAK CR2 on a child?
Yes, for children 1 year and older. For a child under 8 or under 55 lb (25 kg), press the CHILD MODE button; the AED lowers its energy and switches to child CPR prompts, using the same QUIK-STEP pads. It isn't for infants under 1.
What battery does the LIFEPAK CR2 take?
The LIFEPAK CR2 lithium battery, Stryker catalog number 11141-000165. It's non-rechargeable, gives about 166 shocks at 200 joules when new, and should be installed within 1 year of its manufacture date.