Hand-Carried Ultrasound Available to Conduct FAST Exams at the Formula 1 Race Track
BOTHELL, WA - June 19, 2006 - Sonosite Inc. (Nasdaq:SONO) the world leader in hand-carried ultrasound, said today that Dr. Jean-Marc Chauny, an emergency room physician at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal, will use Sonosite's MicroMaxx system, the company's high performance hand-carried ultrasound system, at the Canada 2006 Grand Prix Formula 1 race in Montreal on June 23-25. Dr. Chauny directs the trauma team at the on-site medical center, which will use the MicroMaxx to evaluate trauma and make the critical, time-sensitive decisions necessary to deliver swift and appropriate medial care.
Dr. Chauny has staffed the trauma team at the Canada Grand Prix medical center for more than 20 years. Each June, Sacre-Coeur assembles a team of 100 doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to treat drivers, track staff and the 100,000 spectators that attend the race. The track clinic features the same equipment as the Level 1 trauma room in his emergency department and is located just 15 meters from the track. If a participant suffers a traumatic injury, the team can examine, stabilize, and if necessary, transport the patient to the hospital via helicopter in less than seven minutes.
Dr. Chauny has used Sonosite ultrasound systems at the Canada Grand Prix for the last 3 years. This year he will use the notebook-sized MicroMaxx system, first introduced in June 2005. With the lightweight, highly durable MicroMaxx, Dr. Chauny can perform a FAST exam (Focused Assessment by Sonography in Trauma) on accident victims at the track clinic and diagnose whether a driver might have internal bleeding. This enables the physician to make time-sensitive decisions on whether to further stabilize or rush the patient to Sacre-Coeur as quickly as possible.
"Studies have shown that trauma victims, who appear fine and seem ready to be discharged, may have unseen internal injuries that can create serious problems later," said Dr. Chauny. "With MicroMaxx, I can perform an ultrasound exam very fast, in only 2 or 3 minutes, and discover if there are internal injuries and either treat those injuries immediately, or send the driver back out onto the track with confidence."
"I am impressed by the MicroMaxx's image quality and ease-of-use," added Dr. Chauny. "We want to be at the top edge of medical technology, and with portable ultrasound, that is the MicroMaxx."
"Sonosite created the hand-carried ultrasound category by developing its systems to military specifications for use in battlefield conditions," said Drew D'Aguilar, General Manager of Sonosite Canada. "As a consequence, Sonosite's lightweight, durable, and easy-to-use ultrasound systems have expanded the use of ultrasound in civilian emergency medicine. Dr. Chauny's decision to use the MicroMaxx system at the 2006 Canada Grand Prix is solid validation of its ability to evaluate severe trauma under extreme conditions. Sonosite is proud that Dr. Chauny has chosen MicroMaxx, though we are very hopeful that he won't need to use it!'
About Sonosite
Sonosite, Inc. (www.sonosite.com) is the innovator and world leader in hand-carried ultrasound, with an installed base of more than 25,000 systems. The company, headquartered near Seattle, is represented by eight subsidiaries and a global distribution network 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 500 people worldwide.
Dr. Chauny has staffed the trauma team at the Canada Grand Prix medical center for more than 20 years. Each June, Sacre-Coeur assembles a team of 100 doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to treat drivers, track staff and the 100,000 spectators that attend the race. The track clinic features the same equipment as the Level 1 trauma room in his emergency department and is located just 15 meters from the track. If a participant suffers a traumatic injury, the team can examine, stabilize, and if necessary, transport the patient to the hospital via helicopter in less than seven minutes.
Dr. Chauny has used Sonosite ultrasound systems at the Canada Grand Prix for the last 3 years. This year he will use the notebook-sized MicroMaxx system, first introduced in June 2005. With the lightweight, highly durable MicroMaxx, Dr. Chauny can perform a FAST exam (Focused Assessment by Sonography in Trauma) on accident victims at the track clinic and diagnose whether a driver might have internal bleeding. This enables the physician to make time-sensitive decisions on whether to further stabilize or rush the patient to Sacre-Coeur as quickly as possible.
"Studies have shown that trauma victims, who appear fine and seem ready to be discharged, may have unseen internal injuries that can create serious problems later," said Dr. Chauny. "With MicroMaxx, I can perform an ultrasound exam very fast, in only 2 or 3 minutes, and discover if there are internal injuries and either treat those injuries immediately, or send the driver back out onto the track with confidence."
"I am impressed by the MicroMaxx's image quality and ease-of-use," added Dr. Chauny. "We want to be at the top edge of medical technology, and with portable ultrasound, that is the MicroMaxx."
"Sonosite created the hand-carried ultrasound category by developing its systems to military specifications for use in battlefield conditions," said Drew D'Aguilar, General Manager of Sonosite Canada. "As a consequence, Sonosite's lightweight, durable, and easy-to-use ultrasound systems have expanded the use of ultrasound in civilian emergency medicine. Dr. Chauny's decision to use the MicroMaxx system at the 2006 Canada Grand Prix is solid validation of its ability to evaluate severe trauma under extreme conditions. Sonosite is proud that Dr. Chauny has chosen MicroMaxx, though we are very hopeful that he won't need to use it!'
About Sonosite
Sonosite, Inc. (www.sonosite.com) is the innovator and world leader in hand-carried ultrasound, with an installed base of more than 25,000 systems. The company, headquartered near Seattle, is represented by eight subsidiaries and a global distribution network 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 500 people worldwide.