ALARIS Medical Launches New Infusion Pump for International Market Segments.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 1998--ALARIS Medical Inc. (Nasdaq:ALRS) Wednesday announced that it has launched the ADVANTIS DL Infusion System, a unique pole-mounted infusion pump designed to meet the needs of cost-conscious customers in emerging international markets.

The pump was developed with technology acquired in May 1998, and is being manufactured in ALARIS Medical Systems' European facility in Basingstoke, U.K.

The ADVANTIS DL infusion device is the first volumetric pump manufactured by ALARIS Medical Systems outside of the United States. Primary market segments to be targeted include international emerging markets, international general care hospital markets, and global home care markets. The ADVANTIS DL instrument is not being offered for sale in the United States at this time. The company plans to introduce two additional international models, as well as a domestic version, in 1999.

One of the smallest and lightest intravenous infusion pumps on the market (weighing less than two and a half pounds), the device is designed to save valuable space at the bedside and enhance patient mobility in the hospital and at home.

Intended to meet the demand for economical acquisition and operating costs, the ADVANTIS DL infusion pump is designed to provide a high level of product safety features. These standard features include anti-bolus, automatic set priming and built-in free-flow protection.

ALARIS Medical, through its operating company, ALARIS Medical Systems, is a leader in the international infusion systems market. The company's products are sold directly by more than 200 field sales representatives and through more than 150 distributors to more than 5,000 hospitals and alternate site providers in more than 120 countries.

Based on installed base of infusion pumps, ALARIS Medical has a No. 1 or 2 market position in eight Western European countries in which the company has a direct sales presence. The company also holds the No. 3 market position in Germany and Italy, the largest installed base of infusion pumps in Australia and Canada, and a developing position in Latin America and Asia.

Henk van Rossem, vice president and general manager, ALARIS Medical's International Division, said, "Our goal has been to address the price segments of the international markets with both quality and lower cost, equating to value for health care professionals, and simplicity, safety, reliability and lower operating costs for patients."

The ADVANTIS DL system international launch comes after highly successful Latin American and Middle Eastern distributor meetings. The product also will be featured at the ALARIS Medical Systems booth during the 1998 Medica Congress and Exhibition, the largest medical products tradeshow in Europe, being held in Dusseldorf, Germany, Nov. 18-21.

"We are delighted with the response from our distributors, who have told us that the ADVANTIS DL system is just what they need," said Brad Lee, ALARIS Medical Systems' international marketing manager. "We have shown the pump to a wide variety of potential users who tell us that the ADVANTIS DL pump's size, weight and low-cost intravenous administration set will be attractive to care providers and purchasers around the world."

ALARIS Medical Inc., through its operating company, ALARIS Medical Systems Inc., is known for its IMED and IVAC brand names of intravenous infusion therapy systems and Instromedix cardiac event recorders and pacemaker follow-up systems. The company's principal line of business is the design, manufacture and marketing of intravenous infusion therapy products, patient monitoring instruments and related disposables.

The company's products are distributed to more than 120 countries worldwide. In addition to its San Diego world headquarters and manufacturing facility, the company also operates manufacturing facilities in Creedmoor, N.C.; Hillsboro, Ore.; Basingstoke, Hampshire, U.K.; and Tijuana, Mexico. Additional information on ALARIS Medical can be found at www.alarismed.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements which are based largely upon the company's expectations for demand and acceptance of new and existing products, technologies and opportunities, regulatory approvals and market and industry segment growth. Actual results could vary materially from these expected results due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation, changes in the market, competition, government regulation and foreign operations. Such risk factors are detailed in the Securities and Exchange Commission filings of ALARIS Medical Inc. including Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 1997.