IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cardiac Science Inc. announced today that it has expanded its multi-year strategic distribution agreement with GE Healthcare, a division of General Electric Company , under which GE will begin marketing Cardiac Science’s line of Powerheart(R)-branded automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and fully-automatic in-hospital defibrillator-monitors (CRMs) to hospitals in the United States and Canada.
GE’s hospital sales force will begin marketing Cardiac Science’s recently FDA-cleared Powerheart AED G3 PRO, the Powerheart AED G3 and Powerheart CRM(TM) in the first quarter of 2005. Cardiac Science will support the GE sales effort via a group of sales specialists located in strategic North American locations.
In October, Cardiac Science made its first OEM shipments to GE of its new G3 PRO model. GE is marketing the private-labeled device under the GE-brand name Responder(R) AED PRO in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and other international markets.
Cardiac Science’s Chairman and CEO Raymond W. Cohen said, “To date, we have had little, if any, distribution capability in the U.S and Canadian hospital markets. With GE as our distribution partner, we not only open up a new important market but are also provided with immediate credibility and access. Over the past year or so, significant demand has developed for AEDs within hospitals. AEDs are being used to treat patients in the non-acute sections of the hospital and are also being deployed to protect visitors and hospital employees.
“Prospects for sales of the new G3 PRO in this market are excellent. Medical professionals that have seen the G3 PRO simply love it,” said Cohen. “They tell us it is the perfect AED for use by physicians and nurses because it can be easily used by either highly or minimally trained personnel given the device’s intuitive voice prompts, high resolution ECG display and capability to deliver defibrillation shocks either semi-automatically or manually. We believe the combination of this great new product and a powerful distribution partner will enhance the near-term potential of the CRM and allow us to reap the benefit of the investment we made to develop the G3 PRO.”
About the Powerheart(R) AED G3 PRO
The G3 PRO is a technologically advanced AED designed for use by sophisticated users of lifesaving equipment such as hospital personnel, medical professionals and emergency medical technicians. The G3 PRO is unique in that it displays the victim’s heart rhythm on a built-in high resolution color electrocardiogram (ECG) display and gives professional users the option of delivering defibrillation shocks either semi-automatically or manually during the emergency treatment of victims of sudden cardiac arrest. Other advanced features include continuous cardiac monitoring capability via an ECG patient cable, multiple rescue data storage, clear and comprehensive AED and CPR voice prompts, infrared data transfer and optional rechargeable battery.
About the Powerheart(R) Cardiac Rhythm Module (CRM)
The CRM is a lightweight fully-featured external defibrillator that offers a complete therapeutic monitoring package in a single device -- continuous cardiac monitoring, synchronized cardioversion, non-invasive pacing as well as manual, semi-automatic or fully-automatic defibrillation. Designed for use in hospitals, the CRM can be used to monitor patients during transport, as an emergency defibrillator or be prophylactically attached to an at-risk cardiac patient. Once attached to the patient via its disposable electrode pads and programmed, the CRM can operate without the need for human intervention. It continuously monitors a patient’s heart, detects the onset of life-threatening arrhythmias and can automatically deliver defibrillation therapy to patients suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
About Cardiac Science
Cardiac Science develops, manufactures and markets a complete line of Powerheart(R) brand, automated public access defibrillators (AEDs), and offers comprehensive AED/CPR training and AED program management services that facilitate successful deployments. The company makes the Powerheart(R) CRM(TM), the only FDA-cleared therapeutic patient monitor that instantly and automatically treats hospitalized cardiac patients who suffer life-threatening heart rhythms. Cardiac Science also manufactures its AED products on a private label basis for other leading medical companies such as Nihon Kohden (Japan), Quinton Cardiology Systems and GE Healthcare. For more information please visit http://www.cardiacscience.com/ or call 1.949.797.3800.
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, from time to time the company, or its representatives, have made or may make forward looking statements orally or in writing. The words “estimate,” “potential,” “intended,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” and similar expressions or words are intended to identify forward looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the achievement of future revenue growth based on the expanded agreement with GE. Cardiac Science cautions that these statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties and are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by the forward-looking statements and should not be relied upon by investors when making an investment decision. Information on these and other factors is detailed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2003, subsequent quarterly filings, and other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact: Matt Clawson (Investors), or Raymond W. Cohen Len Hall (Media) Chief Executive Officer Allen & Caron Inc Cardiac Science, Inc. 949-474-4300 949-797-3800 matt@allencaron.comrwcohen@cardiacscience.comlen@allencaron.com
Cardiac Science Inc.
CONTACT: Investors, Matt Clawson, matt@allencaron.com, or Media, LenHall, len@allencaron.com, both of Allen & Caron Inc, +1-949-474-4300, forCardiac Science Inc.; or Raymond W. Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of CardiacScience, Inc., +1-949-797-3800, rwcohen@cardiacscience.com
Web site: http://www.cardiacscience.com/