ALARIS Medical Systems' Instromedix Division Signs Distribution Agreement With Biomedical Systems.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 16, 2000

ALARIS Medical Inc. (AMEX:AMI) announced today that the Instromedix(R) Division of its wholly owned operating subsidiary, ALARIS Medical Systems Inc., has signed a three-year distribution agreement with Biomedical Systems Inc.

Under the terms of the agreement, Instromedix will distribute Biomedical Systems' Century line of Holter Scanning Systems in the United States and in certain other countries.

In an effort to better serve its customers and to maintain R&D focus on its core products, Instromedix has implemented a strategy of adding to its product offering through distribution agreements. Following a recent agreement to distribute Nihon Kohden's 12-lead electrocardiographs, the Biomedical Systems contract is the second one executed this year.

According to Dave Bondietti, division vice president and general manager of Instromedix, "For the past 30 years, Instromedix has earned a reputation for providing high-quality diagnostic products to the cardiologist. It's a natural extension for us to add Holter monitoring to round out our line of devices."

According to Raymond Barrett, chairman of Biomedical Systems, "Biomedical Systems is pleased to be working with Instromedix. Our 25 years of experience in the Cardio-diagnostic field work very well with Instromedix's strong distribution channels."

Founded in 1975, Biomedical Systems is a global organization specializing in providing centralized data acquisition and monitoring services to physicians, clinical research organizations, clinics, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies around the world. It also designs and manufactures cardio-diagnostic medical equipment.

Instromedix(R) is a leader in telecardiology, specializing in non-invasive, portable cardiac event monitoring and pacemaker follow-up systems. Instromedix products include the CarryAll(R) pacemaker follow-up system and the HeartCard(R) and King of Hearts Express(R) cardiac event recording product lines. Instromedix(R) was acquired by ALARIS Medical Systems(TM) in July 1998. Additional information on Instromedix(R) can be found at www.instromedix.com.

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 and Instromedix(R) 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. 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.

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 ALARIS Medical 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 Dec. 31, 1999. ALARIS Medical assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.