VIASYS Healthcare Inc. Announces CORTRAK Wins Medical Design Excellence Award.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. -- VIASYS Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:VAS) announced today that its CORTRAK system has received a 2006 Medical Design Excellence Award ("MDEA"). CORTRAK was recognized as an MDEA winner for its unique application of electromagnetic technology and computerized monitoring to improve the placement of nasoenteric feeding tubes into the alimentary tract.

CORTRAK combines a low amplitude electromagnetic transmitter together with a feeding tube. When the feeding tube is inserted, the stylet emits a signal that is captured by an external receiver. The relative location of the tube is then displayed on a computer monitor in real time.

The CORTRAK system consists of a computer monitor, a receiver unit and a specially designed transmitter stylet. As the feeding tube is advanced, the monitor provides a real time representation of the feeding tube's relative position within the alimentary canal. Feeding tube placements, gastric or small bowel, follow a distinct "track". Any deviation form the expected track can be resolved by the clinician, thus preventing accidental lung placements or coiling tubes in the stomach. Clinical studies indicate an extremely high rate of successful bedside placement of small bowel feeding tubes on the first attempt.

"CORTRAK was developed as a result of extensive work with clinicians, and as such, is designed to meet the most pressing needs of medical workers, hospitals and the patients under their care," said Thomas Kuhn, President of VIASYS MedSystems. "The proper insertion of nasoenteric feeding tubes is of great importance to the treatment of the critically ill. It is with great honor that we accept the Medical Design Excellence Award from Canon Communications."

The Medical Design Excellence Awards competition is organized and presented by Canon Communications LLC (Los Angeles) and is the only awards program that exclusively recognizes contributions and advances in the design of medical products. Entries are evaluated on the basis of their design and engineering features, including innovative use of materials, user-related functions that improve healthcare delivery and change traditional medical attitudes or practices, features that provide enhanced benefits to the patient, and the ability of the product development team to overcome design and engineering challenges so the product meets its clinical objectives.

ABOUT VIASYS HEALTHCARE INC.

VIASYS Healthcare Inc. is a global, research-based medical technology company focused on respiratory, neurology, medical disposable and orthopedic products. VIASYS products are marketed under well-recognized trademarks including, among others, AVEA(R), BEAR(R), BIRD(R), CORFLO(R), CORPAK(R), CORTRAK(R), EME(R), GRASON-STADLER(R), JAEGER(TM), LYRA(R), MEDELEC(R), MICROGAS(R), NAVIGATOR(R), NICOLET(R), NicoletOne(TM), PULMONETIC(TM), SENSORMEDICS(R), TECA(R), TECOMET(TM), VELA(R) and VMAX(R). VIASYS is headquartered in Conshohocken, PA, and its businesses are conducted through its Respiratory Care, NeuroCare, MedSystems and Orthopedics business units. More information can be found at http://www.viasyshealthcare.com.