IRIS Awarded 26th New Patent Protecting Its Aim Technology.

Business Editors

CHATSWORTH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 2001

International Remote Imaging Systems, Inc. (AMEX: IRI - news), or IRIS(R) as it is known, announced today the issuance of US Patent 6,184,978, Method and Apparatus for Verifying Uniform Flow of a Fluid Sample Through a Flow Cell and Distribution on a Slide.

This patent covers a method and apparatus for verifying proper flow through the flow cell employed by IRIS in its 900UDx(TM) and 939UDx(TM) Urine Pathology Systems. According to Dr. Harvey L. Kasdan, Vice President of Research and Development, and a co-inventor, "Automatic flow verification insures proper unattended operation by sensing flow disruptions before they negatively influence test results." This is the latest of 26 patents assigned to IRIS that protect its Automated Intelligent Microscopy (AIM), urinalysis and in-vitro diagnostic technology.

The 939UDx(TM) is the first fully automated walk away system for performing complete urinalytical profiles including microscopy capable of automatically reporting the entire profile on a majority of specimens. Among its unique capabilities is direct operator review of instrument image classification decisions for classes of specimens selected by the user. "The combination of automatically reporting neural net decisions for the majority of specimens, with intelligent user review of those flagged by the instrument, significantly reduces the labor operating cost of the 939UDx without compromising the high quality of reported results," Dr. Kasdan said.

The 939UDx also integrates the Roche Super UA Urine Chemistry Analyzer for reading CHEMSTRIP(TM) urine test strips, the IRIS imaging flow cytometer and IRIS Automated Intelligent Microscopy for capturing and displaying images in a patented format on the high resolution IRISuperScan(TM) ViewStation, the IRIS-exclusive harmonic oscillation method for measuring specific gravity, and a true color and clarity determination.

IRIS is a leader in automated urinalysis technology with more than 450 of its workstations installed in major medical institutions throughout the world. IRIS manufactures the only clinical analyzers using real-time video flow imaging, displaying microscopic images on a video screen; the systems are operated by touch screen interfaces pioneered by the Company for use in urinalysis. IRIS imaging systems use patented and proprietary automated intelligent microscopy (AIM) technology for automating microscopic procedures. IRIS enables clinical laboratory technologists to rapidly and efficiently analyze and process specimens automatically, significantly reducing the costly and time-consuming manual steps required for microscopic analysis.

Its StatSpin(R) subsidiary, acquired in 1996, excels as a maker of innovative centrifuges and blood analysis products. Thirty-five thousand of its micro centrifuge systems have been sold to date. More than 600 major medical institutions worldwide, along with thousands of smaller hospitals, commercial laboratories, clinics, doctors' offices, veterinary labs and research institutions use StatSpin's products. StatSpin manufactures the world's fastest blood separator (30 seconds). Its bench top centrifuges are dedicated to applications for manual specimen preparation for coagulation, cytology, hematology and urinalysis. StatSpin has been providing centrifuges to the veterinary market through a company which provides sample and analysis systems and recently shipped the 10,000th centrifuge to this market.

Its ADIR subsidiary, Advanced Digital Imaging Research, LLC, established in 2000, is a research and development organization based in the Houston, Texas area. ADIR assists in the advancement of IRIS's proprietary imaging technology while conducting government-sponsored research and development in medical imaging and software, and contract research for corporate clients.