Defibrillation system having deformable paddle head

A defibrillation paddle assembly, comprising:

• a flexible paddle having a flexible head and a flexible neck unistructurally molded from a silicone elastomeric material;
• a contact electrode supported by said flexible paddle head;
• a handle coupled to said flexible paddle head for selectively manipulating said flexible paddle head, wherein said handle has a two-part clamshell design that includes a first half and a second half, wherein said first half and said second half of said handle close around and engage said flexible neck of said flexible paddle, wherein said flexible neck extends concentrically from said handle and acts as a cantilever and self-centering spring in supporting said flexible paddle head at first distance from said handle;
• a conductive core element having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein said conductive core element extends through said handle and through said flexible neck, wherein said first end of said conductive core element terminates in said flexible paddle head and said second end of said conductive core element terminates outside said handle, wherein said first end of said conductive core element is electrically coupled to said contact electrode within said flexible paddle head;
• and
• a connector disposed within said handle that engages said conductive core element and locks said conductive core element in a fixed position relative to the handle as said first half and said second half of the handle are joined.