Criticare Systems, Inc. -CSI- Announces the Grant of a Key Technology Patent for the Measurement of Blood Oxygen Saturation.

Business/Healthcare Editors

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 10, 2001

CRITICARE SYSTEMS, INC. (NASDAQ-NMS:CXIM) today announced a key patent was issued in December 2000 concerning the measurement of blood oxygen saturation. The technology developed by CSI increases both the speed and accuracy of the measurement as well as addressing a wider range of patient conditions. This system can be used to monitor oxygenation levels that are typically difficult to detect and monitor. These would include fetal patients where extreme motion obstructs measurement, and other patient conditions where signal transmission is compromised.

CSI president and CEO, Emil Soika, stated, "This proprietary technology is an enhancement to CSI's digital oximetry and is being incorporated across the company's entire product line. In addition, there will be a new complement of oximetry sensors, reusable and disposable, infant and adult that will be introduced in the same time frame. This adds to the CSI library of parameter technology, which includes DOX(TM) advanced digital oximetry, ComfortCuff(TM) noninvasive blood pressure, POET(R) 5-agent gas bench, and proprietary ECG algorithms."

Criticare Systems, Inc. (www.csiusa.com) designs, manufactures, and markets cost-effective patient monitoring systems and noninvasive sensors for a wide range of hospitals and alternate health care environments throughout the world.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements refer to the company's beliefs and expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Such uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the timely completion of new products, regulatory approvals for new products, the risk of new and better technologies, risks relating to international markets, as well as general conditions and competition in the company's markets. Other risks are set forth in CSI's reports and documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.