gilder mentioned this company --- SonoSite Ignites Ultrasound Revolution as Company
Begins Shipment of SonoSite 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.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 21, 1999-- 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.
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., (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.
Contact:
Media:
Fleishman-Hillard, New York
Sean O'Sullivan or Emily Bacon
212/453-2000
or
Investors:
SonoSite, Inc., Bothell
425/951-1333
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SonoSite Inc (Nasdaq:SONO - news)
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