ALARIS Medical Systems' Instromedix Division signs Distribution Agreement with Nihon Kohden America.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 8, 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 Nihon Kohden America Inc., a Nihon Kohden Corp. subsidiary.

Under the terms of the agreement, Instromedix will distribute Nihon Kohden's advanced line of 12-lead electrocardiographs, including a high-end stress system in the United States and Canada.

According to Hitoshi Adachi, president of Nihon Kohden America, "We are very pleased to expand our sales distribution channels for our advanced line of electrocardiographs, with the highly-experienced and focused sales team from Instromedix. We are optimistic that the synergy between our companies and products will result in strong growth opportunities for both Instromedix and Nihon Kohden America."

Dave Bondietti, division vice president and general manager of Instromedix, shares Adachi's enthusiasm. "Adding Nihon Kohden's electrocardiographs broadens our product line, allowing us to offer the cardiologist a full array of diagnostic equipment. It also represents a growth opportunity for both companies."

Founded in 1951 under the motto of "fighting disease with electronics," Nihon Kohden Corp. has been dedicated to improving health care through medical engineering for nearly 50 years. Nihon Kohden Corp. is Japan's leading manufacturer, developer and distributor of medical electronic equipment with subsidiaries in the United States, Europe and Asia and distributors in nearly every country in the world. It is a publicly held company listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange with revenues of $500 million annually.

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, UK; 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 the company upon the success of new products and ongoing research and development efforts including obtaining regulatory approvals, restrictions contained in the instruments governing the company's indebtedness, and the significant leverage to which the company 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. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.