The Alien Healing Machine was a device which had the original purpose of punishment for convicted criminals. The device would transfer the life-force of one person to another. If it is used on a low setting it can be used to heal one person while only draining some life-force from the other user. If used on the maximum setting or if the other party is severely injured, the device can kill the other user.
The device was first discovered by Stephen Franklin in 2258 when he found out that unauthorized medical services were being provided in Down Below by Dr. Laura Rosen. Karl Mueller, a convicted murder tried to use the device to heal his wounds, but was killed by Dr. Rosen when she sucked his life-force from him. She left the station and gave the device to Dr. Franklin.
In 2259 the device was used by Stephen Franklin and John Sheridan to revive Michael Garibaldi from his coma after being shot by his second-in-command.
At the end of the Earth Alliance Civil War Marcus Cole discovered the existence of the device and used it on himself and the mortally wounded Susan Ivanova. Franklin found out that Marcus was going to use the device but it was too late. Marcus was dead and Susan was alive and physically well.