Rheologics Presents Hemorheology Technology at the 88th Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

Technology for measuring the biophysical properties of blood used in the study of blood-flow dynamics and its impact on vascular-related

diseases

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 2002

Rheologics, Inc., a pioneer in the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke, today announced the first U.S.-based demonstration of its complete product portfolio comprised of an in-vitro/in vivo blood profiling device, the Rheolog(TM), and non-invasive blood vessel imaging technology, the Cytoscan(R). The technology demonstration will be held at the 88th Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, one of the world's largest international gatherings of surgeons, taking place in San Francisco, California, October 6-11, 2002 (Booth # 647).

"Rheologics recently exhibited at the Congress of Biorheology and the International Conference on Clinical Hemorheology in Turkey and we were very pleased with the reception of our technology demonstration," said Kenneth R. Kensey, M.D., CEO of Rheologics. "It appears as though Rheologics is poised to take advantage of the need for an international measurement standard in researching blood's biophysical properties. We are very excited that our device technology could help facilitate such a standard."

Multiple clinical studies are in progress using Rheologics' proprietary technology to better understand the role of the biophysical properties of blood in vascular-related disease development. The technology also provides the pharmaceutical industry with a powerful tool for drug development and product differentiation. Currently, trials are being conducted with a range of leading medical institutions including Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C.; and the University of Kansas Medical School, Kansas City, Kansas.

Rheologics Technology Portfolio

The company's breakthrough product, the Rheolog(TM), is the industry's first clinically practical device for measuring the biophysical properties of whole human blood within in-vitro laboratory settings and in vivo environments at the patient point-of-care. The comprehensive rheological profile produced by the instrument provides biodeliverability effects data that complements product life cycle management strategies, aids in the treatment of heart disease and stroke, and assists with the assessments made during drug screening, compound evaluation and patent extension programs.

The Cytoscan(R) complements the Rheolog technology by providing physicians with more diagnostic options. It allows physicians to better monitor perfusion changes in internal organs, allowing them to better observe post-surgical disease states -- ranging from cardiopulmonary bypasses to organ transplants -- without the need for dyes or surgery. The instrumentation is a patented video microscope/soft-tissue probe that captures still images of illuminated subject matter through a unique backlighting approach. Defined as Orthogonal Polarization Spectral Imaging, the Cytoscan(R) technology processes still images according to a proprietary set of algorithms; the differences in the resulting calculations provide a visualization of the subject's cell movements. This technology offers an entry-level blood viscosity (a biophysical property that focuses on a fluid's resistance to flow) measurement. Both devices can be used to monitor patients, thereby becoming an important component of healthcare management for cardiovascular disease.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice. The 88th Annual Clinical Congress of the ACS is one of the associations annual medical education programs designed to help surgeons keep abreast of the latest information on surgical subjects. The program consists of exhibitor displays and an extensive array of educational sessions and courses, with attention given to virtually every area of special interest to surgeons, including contemporary topics such as advances in minimally invasive surgery and image-guided surgery.

About Rheologics, Inc.

Since 1997, Rheologics has pioneered a new standard of care in the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke. Rheologics' mission is to supplement the existing understanding of the risk factors for these diseases by focusing on the emerging field of hemorheology -- the study of the dynamics of blood flow and its impact on vascular-related diseases. The company's breakthrough product, the Rheolog(TM)(1), is the industry's first clinically practical device for measuring the biophysical properties of whole human blood within in-vitro laboratory settings and in vivo screening environments at the patient point-of-care. The comprehensive rheological profile produced by the instrument provides biodeliverability effects data that complements product life cycle management strategies and assists with the assessments made during drug screening, compound evaluation and patent extension programs. Rheologics' portfolio also includes currently available, non-invasive cell imaging technology through the Cytoscan(R), a device that enables physicians to better monitor post-surgical disease states. Both instruments will aid in the development of new therapies and diagnostic capabilities for a variety of disease states. The company is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania. For more information, please call 800/969-2585 or visit the company web site at www.rheologics.com.

(1) The Rheolog is classified as an IDE exempt device by the FDA guidelines and is not approved by the FDA for therapeutic and diagnostic use. The Cytoscan received a CE mark in December 2000. The Rheolog is currently used by leading institutions for research purposes.