It's here (drum roll, please!):
SonoSite Ignites Ultrasound Revolution as
Company Begins Shipment of SonoSite(TM) 180
System: Product Development Team Delivers on
Schedule
New 5.4-Pound System Delivers High-Performance Ultrasound Imaging to Points of Care from
the Doctor's Office to the Patient's Bedside
BOTHELL, Wash., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- SonoSite, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONO - news) today began delivery of the
SonoSite(TM) 180 ultrasound system on schedule to doctors and hospitals worldwide. The SonoSite 180 system is the
world's first hand-carried, all-digital, high-performance ultrasound system weighing just 5.4 pounds. The announcement
marks a milestone that can revolutionize the application of diagnostic ultrasound just as the laptop computer and cellular
telephone advanced personal computing and communications.
(Photo: newscom.com )
Beginning today, physicians and their patients around the globe can benefit from the new high-tech, ultra-portable
diagnostic tool that is expected to expand the role of ultrasound in medical care. Initially available for use in obstetric,
gynecologic and abdominal imaging, the revolutionary new system will enable trained physicians to expand significantly
the routine use of ultrasound for faster, more accurate patient evaluations anytime, anywhere, resulting in better patient care.
Future developments of this new concept in ultrasound diagnostics are expected to meet the specialized needs of cardiology,
whole-body imaging and beyond.
``Ultrasound is most often thought of in connection with obstetrics and, to a lesser degree, gynecology. With the
introduction of the SonoSite 180 system, the routine use of ultrasound examinations is now truly possible because of the
system's portability, durability and cost,' said Steven R. Goldstein, M.D., Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, New
York University School of Medicine and Director of Gynecologic Ultrasound, New York University Medical Center,
Co-director of Bone Densitometry, New York University School of Medicine, and SonoSite Board Member. ``Doctors
will be able to bring ultrasound to the patient in every exam room, in the ER, at their bedside, even at the scene of an
accident. As the system is further developed, this will be possible in an increasing number of practice areas because of the
economy of scale and cost the system represents.'
``With the SonoSite 180 system, tomorrow's ultrasound technology is available today,' said Kevin M. Goodwin, president
and CEO of SonoSite. ``We believe this pioneering diagnostic tool marks a giant step toward making ultrasound
technology available in every exam room and a variety of clinical settings. As a company, the shipment of SonoSite 180
systems on schedule marks the successful transformation of SonoSite from a research and development company to a
company on the vanguard of revolutionizing ultrasound imaging with real products in active use around the world.'
Pioneering Engineering and Design
The new SonoSite 180 system uses a highly miniaturized digital architecture that significantly reduces system size without
sacrificing performance or image quality. At the heart of this innovation are the use of four proprietary, custom-designed,
1-cm-square microchips. These chips drive a single 6-inch by 7-inch circuit board, replacing 10 to 20 larger boards of more
expensive, cart-based systems that can weigh in excess of 200 pounds.
The image quality delivered by the SonoSite 180 system is comparable to larger, more expensive cart-based systems
costing up to 10 times more. As a tool to increase confidence in patient assessment at the point of care, the new system
includes features that are unprecedented in a system of this size and cost, including Color Power Doppler to show the
presence/absence of blood flow and an icon-driven user interface.
Allowing the simultaneous acquisition and interpretation of images, and aiding the professional's ability to ``know in full' in
any clinical setting, the ultra-portable SonoSite 180 system is designed to be hand-carried to the point of patient care. With
the option to chose AC or battery power, this new concept in ultrasound now gives physicians access to ultrasound virtually
anytime, anywhere.
Revolutionary Price
The new SonoSite 180 system is a highly accessible advance in medical technology -- both in terms of portability and cost.
The low cost of the new system (which can be less than $20,000 compared to $200,000 or more for cart-based systems)
can allow physicians to expand the use of ultrasound in their practices by adding ultrasound to every exam room or
otherwise supplementing current stationary ultrasound equipment.
The durability of the scanning transducers, low maintenance needs, plus the low cost of the SonoSite 180 system can also
decrease the cost of ultrasound for both physicians and patients. The low cost will also enable medical professionals to add
ultrasound technology to their facilities for the first time, expanding in-office diagnostic capability, or to care for patients in
remote settings.
On Schedule
Today, with the start of product shipping, SonoSite has met a previously anticipated fourth quarter projection to deliver its
first product to the global ultrasound market and will begin to take revenues. Beginning today, SonoSite will sell, distribute
and service its products through distributors located throughout the world. Internationally, SonoSite has entered into
agreements with Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. in Japan, Esaote S.p.A. in Europe, and other distributors covering more than
75 countries worldwide. In the United States, SonoSite has an exclusive agreement with Diagnostic Imaging, Inc., a PSS
World Medical subsidiary, to serve as the distributor for hospitals and diagnostic imaging centers, and with Physician Sales
and Service, also a PSS World Medical subsidiary, to distribute to physicians' offices.
Supported by Innovative Training and Education Tools
In another first for the ultrasound industry, a SonoKnowledge(TM) Clinical Education Package is included with every
SonoSite 180 system. Developed by the SonoSite Institute for Training and Education (S.I.T.E.) and authored by leading
clinicians from around the world, this innovative ``out of the box' training is intended to assure the appropriate, responsible
and efficient use of this portable and affordable ultrasound system. S.I.T.E.'s activities are guided by input from a
prestigious advisory board comprised of diverse, international clinical leaders from all relevant specialties.
The SonoKnowledge Clinical Education Package is a combination of basic audio/visual training programs in primary care
ultrasound -- all with category I, Continuing Medical Education (CME) accreditation. It includes five videotape courses and
three CD-ROM's with more than five hours of total programming. The video courses provide an introduction to basic
ultrasound scanning in abdominal, gynecologic (two tapes), obstetric and labor & delivery applications. Additionally, the
three CD-ROM programs cover actual case studies, the clinical use of Color Power Doppler and the benefits of ultrasound.
About SonoSite, Inc.
SonoSite, Inc., (http://www.sonosite.com) headquartered in Bothell, Washington, is developing a new class of highly
portable, all-digital ultrasound systems that are designed to have the image quality of larger, more expensive systems but
will be small enough to be hand-carried from bedside to bedside and room to room in almost any clinical setting. SonoSite
became an independent public company on April 6, 1998, as a result of a spin-off from ATL Ultrasound.
Forward-looking Information and the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Certain statements in this press release, including statements concerning potential impact on cost and performance and those
relating to market acceptance, are ``forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are
made and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The words ``believe,' ``expect,' ``intend,' ``anticipate,' variations of such
words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the statement is
not forward-looking. These statements are not guaranties of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties
and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could affect SonoSite's actual results include, among others,
uncertainties as to the Company's ability to manage potential problems, delays or unanticipated expenses, and product
acceptance by the medical community. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon these forward-looking
statements that speak only as to the date of this release. Reference is made to SonoSite's latest annual report on Form
10-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more definitive description of such factors. SonoSite
undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or
circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
SOURCE: SonoSite, Inc. |
