Agilent Technologies Stretches The Limits of Auscultation -- Literally; `Extended-Length,' Fully Electronic Stethoscope Features 40-Inch Reach.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 29, 2000

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) today unveiled an electronic stethoscope that makes auscultation easier for pre-hospital emergency medical providers working in noisy, crowded, or hard-to-reach environments such as accident scenes.

The Agilent Stethos is a fully electronic stethoscope capable of amplifying heart and other biological sounds up to 14 times that of a conventional stethoscope. The new "extended length" Stethos measures 40-inches long from earpiece to chest piece, making it possible for users to auscultate comfortably and accurately in places where most conventional stethoscopes simply cannot reach.

"The Stethos proved to be a valuable tool both in the classroom and in the field," said Nancy Brubaker, professor and program director of the Paramedic Training Program at the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, N.H. "We work in a noisy environment -- from an accident scene on a highway to a noisy home or office. The Stethos does an excellent job of blocking out extraneous noise and clarifying heart and lung sounds. In the classroom, the ability to manipulate the volume and fidelity enables us to adjust the Stethos to meet each student's hearing acuity. As a result, they hear and learn to identify sounds more accurately."

Through its microelectronic design, the Agilent Stethos eliminates sound loss and resonance effects associated with sound traveling through the hollow tubes of acoustic stethoscopes. Agilent Stethos electronically enhances sound fidelity, allowing clinicians to better hear biological sounds which could result in detection of a telltale medical problem that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. Eight levels of volume control mean fewer sounds will be missed in noisy situations, such as busy emergency rooms, disaster scenes, or air and ambulance transportation of patients.

Users can choose from three modes: Bell Mode for low frequencies associated with many cardiac sounds; Diaphragm Mode for midrange frequencies associated with lung or other low-amplitude sounds; or Extended Diaphragm Mode for higher frequency sounds, such as mechanical valve prostheses. Modes can be changed at the touch of a button without interrupting auscultation. In addition, amplification levels are programmable, enabling users to set the amplification level best suited to their hearing. Impact Muting protects the user's hearing by muting high-intensity impact noises.

"Using the Agilent Stethos is like listening in color," says Jay Mazelsky, general manager of Agilent's Medical Supplies Division. "The transition from a fully acoustic stethoscope to the fully electronic Agilent Stethos represents a profound redefinition of this icon of medical diagnostic equipment. Clinicians will now be able to hear more sounds than they could ever hear before."

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Agilent Stethos is available in 28-inch or 40-inch lengths for $349 and $369, respectively. The Agilent Stethos can be ordered online in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany via the Web at www.agilent.com/healthcare/stethos or by calling Agilent Technologies at 1-800-225-0230.

About Agilent's Healthcare Solutions Group

Agilent's Healthcare Solutions Group is a worldwide leader in clinical measurement and diagnostic solutions for the healthcare industry. The group has 4,800 employees and had revenues of more than $1.5 billion in its 1999 fiscal year.

Agilent holds leading market share worldwide in patient monitoring, cardiovascular ultrasound imaging and for critical-care information-management systems. Information about Agilent's Healthcare Solutions Group can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com/healthcare/.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) is a diversified technology company, resulting from Hewlett-Packard Company's plan to strategically realign itself into two fully independent companies. With 42,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent Technologies is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. The businesses comprising Agilent, a subsidiary of HP, had net revenues of more than $8.3 billion in fiscal year 1999.

Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.

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Information in this release applies specifically to products available in the United States. Product availability and specifications may vary in non-U.S. markets.