Sphere Medical Selects AMI Semiconductor for Design and Fabrication of State-of-the-Art Sensor Interface ASIC; Continuous Blood Gas Monitoring Technology Could Revolutionize Critical Care Medicine.

POCATELLO, Idaho & CAMBRIDGE, U.K. -- AMI Semiconductor (Nasdaq:AMIS), a designer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art integrated mixed-signal and structured digital products for the automotive, medical and industrial sectors, and Sphere Medical Limited, a developer of next-generation critical care patient monitoring systems, today announced that Sphere Medical has selected AMIS to design and fabricate a state-of-the-art sensor interface ASIC for Sphere's continuous arterial blood gas monitor, currently in development.

The Sphere real-time blood gas monitoring solution -- critical to monitoring a patient's respiratory system -- includes a disposable sensor and AMIS sensor interface ASIC enclosed in a standard IV tubing set. The blood gas measurements are output to a small bedside monitor. This continuous monitoring approach offers clear advantages over central lab console analyzers and portable cartridge-based analyzers. Clinical treatment decision-making will be much faster and therapies managed more effectively as clinicians no longer have to wait for critical patient data or miss significant events that traditionally may have gone undetected.

Peter Laitenberger, vice president of research and development at Sphere, commented on Sphere's selection of AMIS as their ASIC vendor by stating, "It's clear that the technical requirements of our sensor interface ASIC will push the boundaries of state-of-the-art signal acquisition and conditioning for physiologic monitoring systems. After a thorough evaluation of the leading circuit designers and foundry suppliers in the medical device market, AMIS demonstrated significant advantages in IP, process longevity, medical design focus and expertise, in addition to a first class system architecture consulting process."

The sensor interface ASIC solution includes a high-performance analog subsection with an ultra-low power analog-to-digital converter, temperature sensor, power management, and a communications interface. Drawing on its medical mixed-signal expertise and long history of manufacturing high reliability products, AMIS design and fabrication experts will ensure Sphere's latest innovation swiftly goes into production. "Sphere's continuous blood gas monitoring technology has the potential to enable dramatic improvement in the quality of critical care medicine," said Todd Schneider, vice president of the medical group at AMIS. "We're excited to partner with Sphere to commercialize this innovative technology for the benefit of high acuity patients."

Additional information about Sphere Medical products can be found on their website at: http://www.spheremedical.com/our_products.asp

About AMI Semiconductor

AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) is a leader in the design and manufacture of silicon solutions for the real world. As a widely recognized innovator in state-of-the-art integrated mixed-signal products and structured digital products, AMIS is committed to providing customers with the optimal value, quickest time-to-market semiconductor solutions. Offering unparalleled manufacturing flexibility and dedication to customer service, AMI Semiconductor operates globally with headquarters in Pocatello, Idaho, European corporate offices in Oudenaarde, Belgium, and a network of sales and design centers located in the key markets of the North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. AMI Semiconductor serves the medical device market through a dedicated medical and wireless product line group headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario. For more information, please visit www.amis.com/applications/medical.

About Sphere Medical

Sphere Medical Limited is developing highly innovative monitoring products to provide clinical and economic benefits in the critical care environment, based on the company's proprietary technology. The products allow minimally invasive, real-time measurement of clinical chemistry parameters and therapeutic drug concentrations, giving healthcare professionals the information they require to more effectively manage therapy and optimise patient outcomes. Sphere Medical is a private company, founded in 2002 and based in Cambridge, UK. For further information please see www.spheremedical.com.