Third quarter sales to the North American market were $72.8 million, a decrease of 3% compared to $74.8 million for the prior-year period, including approximately $1 million of negative impact from Canadian foreign exchange. Sales to the North American hospital market increased 1% to $26.6 million, compared to $26.3 million for the same period last year. North American hospital revenues included US Military/Big Government sales of $8.8 million in Q3 of 2009, compared to $5.6 million in Q3 of 2008. Sales to the North American pre-hospital market decreased 5% to $40.5 million, compared to $42.7 million in the prior year. International sales decreased 12% to $22.4 million, compared to $25.4 million in the prior year, including approximately $2 million of negative impact from foreign exchange. LifeVest revenues increased 58% to $11.9 million. Total AutoPulse sales decreased 15% to $4.1 million, compared to $4.8 million in the third quarter of last year.
Gross margin for the third quarter was 51%, compared to 53% in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Approximately one and a half percentage points of the decrease was the result foreign exchange differences from a year ago.
ZOLL Medical develops technologies and software that help clinicians, emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and lay rescuers advance the practice of resuscitation.
