ALARIS Medical Launching Anesthesia Monitor in Europe; Will Apply for USA Marketing Clearance Under Global Distribution Agreement.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 19, 2000

ALARIS Medical Inc. (AMEX:AMI) announced today that its ALARIS Medical Systems Inc. subsidiary will begin to market the ALARIS(TM) A-Line(TM) AEP Monitor and related disposable products in Northern Europe and the United Kingdom.

This device is a brain wave monitoring system that is designed to assist clinicians to assess, manage and maintain patients in an optimal anesthetized state during surgery.

ALARIS Medical recently signed a strategic alliance and global distribution agreement with Danmeter A/S, a Danish company which developed the product. Under the agreement, ALARIS Medical will be the exclusive distributor for the monitor and related disposable electrodes for all countries except the People's Republic of China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and North and South Korea.

"We are pleased to have ALARIS Medical as our global distribution partner," said Kim Gommesen, managing director of Danmeter. "We believe the excellence of our technology will be recognized by the market. When combined with ALARIS Medical's distribution presence in key markets around the world, we believe we can accelerate market penetration of this system and make it the standard of care in what is believed to be a one-half billion dollar market."

The monitor is an easy-to-use, early warning, EEG tool for anesthesiologists to evaluate a patient's level of consciousness during surgery. By maintaining the patient in an optimal anesthetized state during surgeries, the device provides a tool for health care providers to potentially lower operating room procedure costs and improve the quality of post-operative patient recovery.

"The response to this product from anesthesiology thought leaders and health care providers has been outstanding," said David L. Schlotterbeck, president and chief executive officer of ALARIS Medical. "It also furthers our company's commitment to commercialize technological innovations that improve the safety and quality of patient care while lowering care delivery costs."

The A-line monitor has been under development by Danmeter over the last 6 years. It is based on a principle known as Auditory Evoked Potential (AEP). AEP relies on the brain's response to the patient's hearing. It is well-documented that the hearing sense is the last of the senses to disappear during anesthesia and the first to be regained. This monitor and its proprietary technology represent the first commercial version of AEP to achieve a direct measurement of level of consciousness.

ALARIS Medical Systems plans to launch the monitor and related disposables first in Northern Europe and the United Kingdom. This launch is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2000 and will utilize a separate sales force, focused only on these products. This sales force will build on the relationships that ALARIS Medical has developed with anesthesiologists through the sale of its "P-Series" and ASENA(TM) syringe pumps used in intravenous anesthesia.

The monitor is not available for sale in the United States at this time; however, the company is planning to apply for 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. ALARIS Medical will show the product for the benefit of European attendees at the American Society of Anesthesiology meeting October 14-18, 2000 in San Francisco.

ALARIS Medical Inc., through its operating subsidiary ALARIS Medical Systems Inc., is known for its IMED(R) and IVAC(R) brand names of intravenous infusion therapy 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. In addition to its San Diego world headquarters and manufacturing facility, the company also operates manufacturing facilities in Creedmoor, N.C.; Basingstoke, Hampshire, U.K.; and Tijuana, Mexico. Additional information on ALARIS Medical can be found at www.alarismed.com.

Danmeter A/S is a privately-held leading European manufacturer of patient monitoring equipment dedicated to OR/ICU and non-invasive stimulation technology within pain relief and muscle rehabilitation. The company has 25+ years experience within this field. The Danmeter name is synonymous with quality, ergonomics, innovation and high performance. Additional information on Danmeter A/S can be found at www.danmeter.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Persons reading this release are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including the effect of legislative and regulatory changes affecting the health care industry, the potential of increased levels of competition, technological changes, the dependence of ALARIS Medical upon the success of new products and ongoing research and development efforts including obtaining regulatory approvals, restrictions contained in the instruments governing ALARIS Medical's indebtedness, and the significant leverage to which it is subject. Such risk factors are detailed in the Securities and Exchange Commission filings of ALARIS Medical, Inc., including Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. ALARIS Medical assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.