Aethon Redefines Hospital Asset Utilization.

Offers First Mobile Autonomous Solution for Locating, Delivering and Recovering Hospital Equipment

NEW ORLEANS -- Aethon Inc., a leader in mobile autonomous robots for practical business applications, announced today the general availability of the first mobile autonomous asset utilization solution designed to locate, deliver and recover hospital equipment. The solution, the only one capable of automated transportation, features HOMER[TM], Aethon's RFID-based asset tracking system, and TUG[TM], the company's widely-deployed asset delivery and recovery system. These two robotic systems working in concert enable hospitals to improve staff efficiency and satisfaction, increase asset utilization, decrease equipment rentals and improve regulatory compliance.

"While it's critical that hospital staff knows where constantly moving and often hard to find equipment is at all times, the ultimate value is when the equipment is automatically recovered and delivered to the location where it's needed when it's needed," said Aldo Zini, chief executive officer, Aethon. "The only asset utilization solution that allows hospitals to avoid major infrastructure investments, HOMER and TUG improve workflow dynamics, lower operational costs and improve quality of care."

HOMER's unique asset tracking capabilities are an outgrowth of technology made possible by TUG, the most successful automated courier system for the delivery and recovery of hospital goods and supplies. Leveraging the TUG platform, HOMER employs a single mobile antenna that eliminates the typical infrastructure hurdles of competitors' systems. This translates into more efficient organization and location of pumps, wheelchairs, monitors, respirators, beds and virtually any other assets hospitals are interested in tracking.

A cost-effective and comprehensive solution, HOMER can seamlessly merge with existing hospital systems and requires minimal installation. HOMER works with active RFID tags (unique identifiers). Because it can use any third-party tag, HOMER is tag independent. Furthermore, HOMER can be integrated into existing asset management software. Aethon provides installation, tag selection and setup, software integration, training and support.

TUG is an autonomous mobile robot that requires no extra infrastructure investment, is simple to install and has many applications such as central supply, dietary, pharmacy, laboratory, medical records, nursing and linens. Currently, the TUG delivery and recovery system is being used in hospitals across 75 sites. Many hospitals have deployed multiple TUGs to save time and money, while increasing staff and patient satisfaction.

"Aethon has redefined how to deploy an asset utilization solution, making it affordable and easy to install," said John Lewis, president and CEO, Armstrong County Memorial Hospital, a 173-bed medical facility in Kittanning, Penn. "We see good ideas every day that have the potential to improve the quality of care for our patients. Unfortunately, the vast majority of them are too cost prohibitive from both an acquisition and installation perspective for the average community hospital. HOMER and TUG are practical innovations that put the benefits of asset utilization within the reach of hospitals like ours."

"Aethon offers hospitals a complete, simple and reliable asset utilization solution," said Mark Todd, director, Material Management, Providence Hospital, a 382-bed medical facility in Washington, DC. "Aethon's solution is much less expensive and more complete for what I had in mind for asset utilization. When I looked at other options, they were either very expensive or were missing important parts. Aethon integrates automated delivery and recovery as part of its asset utilization solution, ensuring that we not only know where our assets are, but that they are where they should be."

Aethon is removing another obstacle to the adoption of this technology with a pricing innovation. Aethon is the only company to offer per tag (asset tracked) pricing, allowing hospitals to control their investment and avoid the large capital expense associated with typical site licenses.

Aethon

Based in Pittsburgh, Penn., Aethon is a leader in providing dependable and affordable mobile autonomous robots for practical business applications. In healthcare, the company's automated technology platform helps hospitals increase productivity and staff satisfaction, while saving time and money. The combination of TUG, a courier system for the delivery and recovery of hospital goods and supplies, and HOMER, an RFID-based asset tracking system, redefine hospital asset utilization. Aethon is a privately held, venture backed company. It has raised $22.5 million from Innovation Works, Draper Triangle Ventures, Salix Ventures, Ascension Health Ventures and Pacific Venture Group, among others. For more information, visit www.aethon.com.