Biphasic Waveforms Get Important Nod from New AHA Guidelines.

Business/Technology Editors & Health/Medical Writers

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 22, 2000

Biphasic Shock Energies less than or equal to 200

Joules Safe and Effective

ZOLL Medical Corporation (Nasdaq: ZOLL), a manufacturer of non-invasive cardiac resuscitation devices which provide pacing and defibrillation, commented on the incorporation of external Biphasic defibrillation in the newly released American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.

Published in today's issue of Circulation, the new Guidelines state: "Current research confirms that Biphasic shock energies less than or equal to 200J (joules) are safe and effective." The AHA classifies medical therapies based on the degree to which a therapeutic intervention has been shown to be safe and effective. The classification system considers both the number and the quality of clinical studies that support a particular recommendation. The new Guidelines describe such Biphasic defibrillation as a Class IIa therapy, defined as "acceptable, safe and useful in clinical practice". This class of recommendation indicates that low energy Biphasic defibrillation is an "intervention of choice" for treating ventricular fibrillation, a cardiac rhythm disturbance in which the heart fails to contract and merely quivers (fibrillates).

The Guidelines are recommendations developed by the AHA in collaboration with the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) to treat victims of cardiac or respiratory emergencies. These latest Guidelines are based on global science and were produced in collaboration with worldwide experts. The Guidelines are the most influential document in setting resuscitation protocols and practices followed by clinicians.

Richard A. Packer, President and Chief Executive Officer of ZOLL, commented, "We view these new Guidelines as an important endorsement of Biphasic defibrillation with energies less than or equal to 200 joules. We see low energy Biphasic shocks moving rapidly into standard resuscitation protocols. ZOLL believes the use of low-energy Biphasic shocks provides a means for delivering effective therapy while minimizing side effects. It is well understood that functional and morphological damage may result if energy and current are too high. Low energy Biphasic waveforms can significantly reduce side effects. We believe the absence of reference to Biphasic shocks in excess of 200 joules from Guidelines reflects the lack of published peer-reviewed data on safety and effectiveness on high energy Biphasic shocks."

Mr. Packer concluded, "While the Guidelines clearly position Biphasic shocks of 200 joules or less as an accepted clinical tool, additional research is being done. ZOLL Medical is committed to supporting ongoing research studying the benefits of low energy Biphasic defibrillation."

ZOLL Medical Corporation designs, manufactures and markets an integrated line of proprietary non-invasive resuscitation devices and disposable electrodes. Used by health care professionals to provide both types of cardiac resuscitation - pacing and defibrillation - these products are essential in the emergency treatment of cardiac arrest victims both inside and outside the hospital. ZOLL also designs and markets software, which automates collection and management of both clinical and non-clinical data for emergency medical service providers.

Certain statements contained in this press release, including statements regarding the anticipated development of the Company's business, the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers, primarily with respect to the Company's business model and future operating performance of the Company, including expectations regarding results in future periods, operating performance, contributions to results from new products, our ability to exploit growth opportunities in the EMS data management and pre-hospital market, and other statements contained herein regarding matters that are not historical facts, are "forward-looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2000, as well as uncertainties regarding the market, acceptance and profitability of the Company's new products and the desire or ability of other parties to purchase the Company's products.