Rectilinear Biphasic Defibrillation Surpasses Key Milestone; Growing Installed Base Yields Superior Clinical Results.

Business/Technology Editors

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2000

ZOLL Medical Corporation (Nasdaq: ZOLL), a manufacturer of non-invasive cardiac resuscitation devices which provide pacing and defibrillation, today announced a commercial milestone related to its proprietary Rectilinear Biphasic defibrillation technology. Rectilinear Biphasic configurations of the highly successful M Series platform have now been adopted by more than 150 U.S. hospitals for use in the cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.

Designed specifically for external defibrillation, ZOLL's patented technology employs a fixed duration, constant current design that eliminates high peak currents and addresses the challenge of patient impedance. Peer-reviewed, randomized trials on 349 patients demonstrates that low-energy Rectilinear Biphasic technology is superior to high-energy monophasic defibrillation. Specifically, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared ZOLL's marketing claims for superiority with atrial fibrillation and high-impedance (difficult-to-defibrillate) ventricular fibrillation.

Richard A. Packer, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "We are pleased with the market's rapid acceptance of low-energy Biphasic technology. The technology is being purchased by a broad range of facilities from leading teaching institutions to smaller community-based hospitals. In the short time the Rectilinear Biphasic technology has been on the market we are seeing it fulfill the promise shown in the clinical trials. Physicians are literally seeing the difference."

As an example, Mr. Packer pointed to an independent account presented at the recent 21st meeting of the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. Investigators from the Cleveland Clinic reported the ZOLL Rectilinear Biphasic defibrillation waveform to be 100% efficacious for cardioverting atrial fibrillation in a series of 176 patients. Speaking at the Scientific Sessions, Mark J. Niebauer, Ph.D., MD stated: "Cardioversion with the Rectilinear Biphasic waveform reduces the energy threshold for atrial fibrillation and is successful in patients resistant to monophasic cardioversion at 360 joules. When compared to conventional monophasic technology, the Rectilinear Biphasic waveform was found to achieve these results at energy levels 64 percent lower than that for conventional monophasic cardioversion."

To date, the cumulative Cleveland Clinic experience exceeds 500 patients. Dr. Niebauer highlighted a subset of 11 patients who all previously required dual defibrillator shocks (720 joules) for successful cardioversion. All were successfully converted with the Rectilinear Biphasic waveform technology at an average shock of 136 joules.

Mr. Packer concluded, "These findings aren't unique. Reports on patients who were successfully cardioverted with the low energy Rectilinear Biphasic technology despite having failed multiple attempts with high-energy are commonplace. Clinicians are seeing the benefits of low energy Biphasic defibrillation and the superiority of ZOLL's technology. We expect an acceleration in the conversion to Biphasic defibrillation."

ZOLL Medical Corporation 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, which automates collection and management of both clinical and non-clinical data for emergency medical service providers.

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 results in future periods, operating performance, contributions to results from new products, our ability to exploit growth opportunities in the EMS data management and pre-hospital market, and other statements contained herein regarding matters that are not historical facts, are "forward-looking" statements (as such term is 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 Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on February 22, 2000, as well as uncertainties regarding the market, acceptance and profitability of the Company's new products and the desire or ability of other parties to purchase the Company's products.