Datex-Ohmeda Extends its New Product Family, System 5 to North America at the World Congress of Anaesthesiologists.

Business & Health Editors

MONTREAL--(BW HealthWire)--June 5, 2000

North American anesthesiologists will be introduced to Datex-Ohmeda's new approach to anesthesia and critical care at the World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA) conference this week in Montreal. Datex-Ohmeda's System 5 is designed to simplify the anesthesia and critical care environment by offering the benefits of integration across the company's range of products and services. System 5 was first launched in Europe in November 1999.

Datex-Ohmeda System 5 is designed to address both customers' near- and long-term needs in the challenging healthcare environment. It is built around customer requirements for integration and information management, greater efficiency in cost and process, and improvements in the quality of patient care. A key design principle underlying Datex-Ohmeda System 5 is a comprehensive development platform, designed to assure customers that future equipment will be compatible with existing solutions and that current investments will retain value as technology advances. Richard Atkin, President and CEO of Datex-Ohmeda North America, describes the System 5 vision: "Datex-Ohmeda integrated its collective knowhow and experience in anesthesia and critical care into a new set of state-of-the-art systems and products to serve five application areas at the very heart of the hospital -- anesthesia, post-anesthesia care, critical care, emergency care and transport. System 5 also symbolizes five dimensions of care - for the patient, for professionals, for integration, for the care process and for customer investment."

According to Atkin, the System 5 business philosophy emphasizes "evolutionary changes with revolutionary benefits" -- continual improvements in technology and ergonomics together with innovative products and services, all designed to make patient care easier and safer.

To help customers make the transition to the higher functioning System 5 performance levels easily and cost-effectively, Datex-Ohmeda developed the S/5 L.I.F.E. program - "Latest Innovations, Features and Enhancements." In the introductory phase of the program, worldwide customers with Datex-Ohmeda AS/3 and CS/3 patient monitors, Information Centers or Centrals and Arrhythmia Workstations will have the option to purchase hardware and software required for upgrade to System 5.

Datex-Ohmeda System 5 products and services will be introduced in North America beginning in 2000 and will offer a broad range of solutions for anesthesia, emergency and critical care, including anesthesia and critical care monitors, anesthesia machines, critical care ventilators and a care process management system. Single-use products and accessories will also be available for use with this equipment. The product offering will be completed by value-added services, including training, implementation and technical support.

Datex-Ohmeda is the world's leading supplier of anesthesia equipment and services and an emerging leader in critical care. The company's wide range of products includes patient monitoring systems, clinical information systems, anesthesia machines and ventilators. Datex-Ohmeda is the core business of Instrumentarium Corporation (Nasdaq: INMRY; Helsinki: INS1V.HE), an international healthcare company headquartered in Finland. Instrumentarium's net worldwide sales in 1999 were $824 million. It has approximately 5,100 employees worldwide. Datex-Ohmeda's North American headquarters are located in Tewksbury, Mass. The company's web address is www.datex-ohmeda.com.