GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Selects New ZOLL AED Plus for Distribution to Physicians' Offices and Clinics.

Business/Technology Editors & Health/Medical Writers

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--June 5, 2002

Companies anticipate large market potential for AED Plus in

physicians' offices

ZOLL Medical Corporation (Nasdaq: ZOLL), a manufacturer of non-invasive cardiac resuscitation devices, and GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, today announced that the companies have signed an exclusive multi-year distribution agreement for the sale of the new ZOLL AED Plus automated external defibrillator (AED) to the 240,000 - 250,000 physicians' offices and clinics throughout the U.S.

"We are delighted that GE selected the AED Plus as their AED of choice, opening an important new market for these devices. Our partnership will establish access to early defibrillation in physicians' offices and clinics, where people are potentially at risk for sudden cardiac arrest and expect to receive medical care. With only a small fraction of this market penetrated, we see a tremendous opportunity to expand," said Richard Packer, President and Chief Executive Officer, ZOLL Medical. "Priced at less than $2,000, and featuring user-friendly visual and audio prompts, a single electrode pad and off-the-shelf, affordable consumer batteries, the ZOLL AED Plus is an attractive product for this market."

The ZOLL AED Plus is the first AED to feature a combination of simple, step-by-step illustrations and audio coaching. These features help to make a stressful and challenging medical crisis a more manageable and controlled rescue, especially for trained individuals not routinely responsible for responding to victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The ZOLL AED Plus helps the rescuer more calmly think through the appropriate steps, and administer necessary life-saving treatment as defined by the American Heart Association guidelines.

"We were impressed with the thoughtful and user-friendly design, especially important in an environment where defibrillation is not a common occurrence, such as a physician's office or clinic," said Mike Genau, Vice President of Cardiology Systems for GE Medical Systems Information Technologies. "With GE Medical Systems' global market presence in physicians' offices and clinics, combined with a well-designed and needed device from ZOLL, we are well prepared to establish a leadership role in providing AEDs to this potentially significant market."

"With such a strong partner in GE, and their network of over 80 distributors and sales representatives marketing our new AED Plus to physician offices and clinics throughout the country, we are confident that we will make an important impact in this market. At the same time, our own sales and distribution teams will focus on expanding access to early defibrillation in other underserved markets," added Mr. Packer.

AEDs are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest resulting from ventricular fibrillation (VF), a spontaneous, mostly fatal interruption of normal heartbeat and a leading cause of death in the United States. The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that as many as 49% of the approximately 400,000 people who die from sudden cardiac arrest each year could be saved with public access defibrillation, the placement of defibrillators into the community for use by trained laypersons and first responders. According to the AHA, "Public access defibrillation, which places AEDs in the hands of trained laypersons, has the potential to be the single greatest advance in the treatment of VF cardiac arrest since the development of CPR."

About GE Medical Systems Information Technologies

GE Medical Systems Information Technologies provides hospitals and healthcare systems with advanced software and technologies to improve their clinical performance. The Company's expertise spans the areas of cardiology, patient monitoring, image management, clinical communications, clinical information systems and Six Sigma-based management tools to enable real-time, integrated electronic medical record. GE Medical Systems Information Technologies is a business of GE Medical Systems, an $8 billion global leader in medical imaging and technology. Additional information about GE Medical Systems can be found at www.gemedical.com.

About ZOLL Medical Corporation

ZOLL Medical Corporation, headquartered in Burlington, MA, 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 that automates collection and management of both clinical and non-clinical data for emergency medical service providers. ZOLL has operations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Australia, and business partners in all of the world's major markets. For more information about ZOLL and its products, visit the ZOLL web site at www.zoll.com.

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 the amount of revenue ZOLL will receive under this agreement with GE, and other statements contained herein regarding matters that are not historical facts, are "forward-looking" statements (as 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 Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 15, 2002, the future performance of the direct sales operations, the outcome of a pending patent infringement suit relating to the ZOLL AED Plus, as well as uncertainties regarding the market, acceptance and profitability of the ZOLL AED Plus.