HP Introduces HP Viridia CMS Patient-Monitoring Series; Platform Features Expanded Functionality For OR, ICU and NICU.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--March 30, 1998-- Hewlett-Packard Company today introduced the first release of the HP Viridia Component Monitoring System Series of acute-care patient monitors. The HP Viridia CMS is the most recent evolution of the HP OmniCare CMS -- the world's best-selling patient-monitoring platform. The HP Viridia CMS features expanded functionality for neonatal, anesthesia and intensive-care monitoring and is expected to begin shipping worldwide in June.

In keeping with HP's tradition of technology investment protection, all HP CMS patient monitors can be updated easily and cost-effectively to HP Viridia CMS functionality. All models can be deployed on the same network, sharing central stations and using interchangeable measurement, data transfer, integration and recorder modules, as well as cables and supplies.

"In 1989, we introduced the 'monitor for life' concept, a core platform that could continually incorporate new hardware and software functionality," said Hans-Guenter Hohmann, general manager, HP Patient Monitoring Division. "The HP Viridia CMS will meet today's new, patient-assessment, connectivity and communications needs and will evolve to meet tomorrow's healthcare requirements for additional diagnostic and extended data-distribution capabilities."

The HP Viridia CMS Series is an integral part of the HP Viridia Patient Care System, a comprehensive family of patient-measurement, information-management and communications solutions for managing patients across the continuum of care. Combining best-in-class diagnostic and information solutions with innovative financing, support and service, the HP Viridia System, which includes the HP Viridia Information Center and HP Viridia Telemetry System, is designed to help clinicians maintain high-quality care while controlling costs.

NEW FEATURES

The HP Viridia CMS Series features an enhanced flat-screen display and space-saving design, important considerations in care environments in which space is at a premium.

Using such information integration tools as the HP VueLink module and RS232 connections, the HP Viridia CMS integrates information from the industry's most popular ventilators, including North American Drger, Drgerwerk, Taema, Engstrom, Ohmeda, Puritan Bennett, Siemens, Bear and Infrasonics.

By integrating with popular ventilators, the HP Viridia CMS Series now displays respiratory loops -- pressure/volume, flow/volume and pressure/flow -- to support detection of changes in patient status and respiratory or ventilator problems in the anesthesia and acute-care environments. With this capability, the HP Viridia CMS can provide an integrated display of cardiovascular and respiratory information on the HP Viridia CMS screen for real-time vigilance and can be sent to a recorder module, printer or perioperative information-management system.

The Neonatal Event Review feature automatically captures and stores apnea events. Apnea, often associated with bradycardia or oxygen desaturation, is one of the most frequent cardiorespiratory complications for pre-term newborns. Apnea events are documented and categorized, enabling clinicians to review up to a maximum of 48 over a 24-hour period.

The Neonatal Event Review window provides an easy-to-interpret graphical representation of the last 24 hours of events. Events can be clearly identified, reviewed and evaluated in trend form and with a stored four-minute oxy-cardiorespirogram for each detected event.

ABOUT HP

HP's Medical Products Group is a worldwide leader of clinical measurement and diagnostic technologies, information solutions, services, support and supplies for the healthcare industry. The group has 5,300 employees and had revenues of more than $1.2 billion in its 1997 fiscal year.

HP leads the world in acute-care patient monitoring, cardiovascular ultrasound imaging and clinical-information systems for critical care, and is at the forefront of new technologies such as point-of-care diagnostics and predictive instruments. HP is the founding member of the Andover Working Group, a 300-member initiative focused on developing standards-based interoperability between healthcare applications.

HP Medical Products Group is the official patient-monitoring and defibrillator supplier to the 1998 World Cup. Information about HP Medical Products Group can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com/go/medical.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. It is the second-largest computer supplier in the world, with computer-related revenue in excess of $35.4 billion in its 1997 fiscal year. HP has 123,300 employees and had revenue of $42.9 billion in its 1997 fiscal year.

HP is the official information-technology hardware and maintenance supplier to the 1998 World Cup.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

CONTACT: HP

Phyllis Laorenza Linnehan, 978/659-2726

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Mullen PR for HP

Tony Labriola, 978/468-1155 ext. 127

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