B. Braun Horizon Outlook IV Safety Infusion System Is First To Address Proposed FDA Bar Code Requirements.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

BETHLEHEM, Penn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 3, 2002

Helps the Right Patient Receive the Right Drug, at the Right Dose, at the Right Time.

B. Braun Medical Inc. today announced its Horizon Outlook(TM) IV Safety Infusion System is first IV infusion system to meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiative to develop a regulation on bar code labeling for human drug products to reduce the number of preventable drug errors in the U.S.

The recently introduced Horizon Outlook IV Safety Infusion System from B. Braun uses barcode technology to ensure the "right" patient is receiving the "right" drug in the "right" dose from an "authorized" clinician. Its patented DoseScan(TM) barcode technology creates a primary level of safety - with automated checks and balances that augment the manual procedures commonly used today. Secondary protection is provided by its DoseGuard(TM) software, which notifies clinicians if institution defined dose limits are exceeded. The combined technologies help to reduce human error and enable hospitals to provide an unprecedented level of IV medication delivery safety for patients. In the June 18, 2002 issue of the Federal Register, the FDA made the statement, "Errors related to dispensing and administration can be minimized through the use of bar codes. For example, if a clinician could use a bar code scanner to compare the bar code on a human drug product to a specific patient's drug regimen, the clinician would be able to verify that the right patient is receiving the right drug, at the right dose, and at the right time."

"Human error is the root cause for the vast majority of medication errors that cause significant patient harm or result in patient death," said John Tourville, Director of Pharmacy at Children's Medical Center of Dallas. "The most common source of human error is inaccurate manual programming of intravenous pumps. B. Braun has virtually eliminated the need to manually program IV pumps with the barcoding technology in its Horizon Outlook(TM) system. The proposal by the FDA to require barcode labels on human drug products would further ensure patient safety by eliminating the need to manually label the most common IV medications in the pharmacy."

"We fully support the FDA's initiative to develop bar code regulation to address the growing issues surrounding medication errors in the U.S.," said Caroll H. Neubauer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of B. Braun Medical Inc. As a company we are dedicated to developing products that increase both patient and clinician safety. The Horizon Outlook IV System is a key product in our People, Products, and Programs safety initiative and we are pleased that the FDA recognizes the potential benefits of bar code technology in managing patient care."

About B. Braun

With more than 28,000 employees worldwide, B. Braun is a full line supplier of innovative healthcare products & programs designed to improve both patient and clinician safety. Through its People, Products, and Programs - "Working Together for Excellence in Safety(TM)" initiative, B. Braun promotes best practices and products for continuous improvement of safety.

Founded 160 years ago, B. Braun is proud of its tradition and commitment to delivering safety products and programs with unmatched quality, superior technology, and cost-effectiveness, while maintaining environmental responsibility. For more information about B. Braun or its safety healthcare products, call 800-854-6851, or visit B. Braun at www.bbraunusa.com.