Vascular imaging and connectivity highlighted; expanded features available mid-December

CHICAGO, IL, December 1, 2003 - Sonosite, Inc. (NASDAQ: SONO), the leader in high-performance, compact ultrasound technology, is featuring enhancements to the TITAN, its next generation ultrasound system, at the 89th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) taking place this week at McCormick Place in Chicago (Booth #3944). Introduced earlier this year, the TITAN system is a high-resolution, compact ultrasound system that addresses a broad range of clinical needs for radiology. Weighing only 7.7 pounds, the TITAN system is ergonomic in design and boots up in less than 12 seconds, making it easy for sonographers to operate wherever and whenever it is needed. "TITAN has already become an integral part of our radiology department," said Dr. Peter Cooperberg, FRCP(C), professor and vice-chairman of Radiology, University of British Columbia. "Its compact size makes it ideal for portable and interventional exams and it has the high quality performance and connectivity of our high-end systems." Enhanced TITAN features introduced at RSNA include a new software package for vascular imaging and expanded connectivity capabilities. The new features are available to TITAN customers in mid-December. The latest version of the TITAN system includes:
  • Directional color power Doppler and steerable color box on linear array transducers
  • Pulsed wave Doppler with duplex imaging
  • DICOM print and store on board
  • 2D split screen imaging
  • Volume flow measurement
Other features unique to the Sonosite TITAN system include:
  • SiteLink image transfer to PC via USB connection
  • Dual compact flashcard support for high-capacity image storage and software upgrades
  • Detachable mini dock for a broad range of connectivity options
"Radiologists have come to depend on the Sonosite 180PLUS and the iLook ultrasound systems to guide interventional procedures such as line placements and needle biopsy," said Kevin M. Goodwin, president and CEO of Sonosite. "With the TITAN ultrasound system, Sonosite has expanded the diagnostic capabilities of, and further enhanced, the imaging performance available in a compact system to address general radiology applications." TITAN's Modular Design Allows for Diagnostic Versatility TITAN's design is based on extensive customer feedback from radiologists and other medical professionals. It incorporates Sonosite's proprietary ASIC technology (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), which integrates millions of transistors onto one chip. Unlike conventional high-resolution ultrasound systems that require 10-20 circuit boards and weigh 200-400 pounds, the TITAN system relies on three ASIC chips housed on a single circuit board. This technology enables Sonosite systems to be light, compact and highly cost-effective while delivering high performance, durability and reliability. The TITAN system is also designed to accommodate multiple transducers for use in a variety of clinical applications, including abdominal, Ob/Gyn, vascular and small parts exams. TITAN's Triple Transducer Connect feature enables clinicians to have any three of seven transducers connected to the TITAN at a time and the ability to switch between transducers in less than 12 seconds. Note to editors: More detailed TITAN features and specifications available upon request.
About Sonosite Sonosite, Inc. (www.sonosite.com) is the innovator and world leader in hand-carried ultrasound, with an installed base of more than 20,000 systems. The Company, headquartered near Seattle, Washington is represented by eight subsidiaries and a global distribution netwok in over 75 countries. Sonosite's small, lightweight systems are expanding the use of ultrasound across the clinical spectrum by cost-effectively bringing high performance ultrasound to the point of patient care. The Company employs approximately 450 people worldwide.