BOTHELL, WA, June 30, 2004 - Sonosite, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONO), the worldwide leader in high-performance, hand-carried ultrasound, announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement for Japan with Aloka Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese manufacturer and distributor of ultrasound systems. The agreement names Aloka as Sonosite's exclusive distributor for TITAN, the Company's newest generation of high performance, hand-carried ultrasound systems, for all of Japan's clinical ultrasound markets, including cardiology, abdominal, vascular, Ob/gyn and emergency medicine.
"This agreement brings together two leaders in ultrasound," said Mr. Yoshihiro Yoshikawa, President, Aloka Co. Ltd. "Hand-carried ultrasound is Japan's most rapidly growing ultrasound market. Aloka is fully committed to optimizing this major opportunity through this strategic alliance with Sonosite and to bringing the finest hand-carried ultrasound available to Japan's medical practitioners."
"Aloka's history in ultrasound and respected position as a leading technology innovator make this an exciting partnership for Sonosite," said Kevin M. Goodwin, Sonosite President and CEO. "Our agreement with Aloka is a cornerstone of our strategy to serve the Japanese market by establishing multiple distribution channels through which Sonosite's products can be promoted across a broad clinical spectrum. We believe the market for hand-carried ultrasound systems could eventually equal or exceed Japan's current market for cart-based systems. We look forward to working with the Aloka team to further strengthen our position in and expanding this key market."
The TITAN system utilizes Sonosite's proprietary ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) technology to integrate millions of transistors onto one circuit, thereby reducing size while offering excellent image quality and performance in a highly durable design. Weighing only 7.7 pounds (3.5 kg), the TITAN system boots up in 12-seconds, is easy to use and can be hand-carried to wherever it is needed to immediately deliver patient care efficiently and effectively.
Japan is the world's second largest ultrasound market and according to Aloka accounted for an estimated $400 million in sales in 2003. The agreement with Aloka follows other steps Sonosite has taken in recent months to expand its presence in Japan. In February 2004, the Company opened Sonosite Japan KK, a wholly-owned subsidiary, to provide customer service, quality assurance, sales support and direct sales into certain clinical segments. Earlier this year, Sonosite also signed an agreement with Olympus Corporation targeted at the Japanese endoscopy market.
"This agreement brings together two leaders in ultrasound," said Mr. Yoshihiro Yoshikawa, President, Aloka Co. Ltd. "Hand-carried ultrasound is Japan's most rapidly growing ultrasound market. Aloka is fully committed to optimizing this major opportunity through this strategic alliance with Sonosite and to bringing the finest hand-carried ultrasound available to Japan's medical practitioners."
"Aloka's history in ultrasound and respected position as a leading technology innovator make this an exciting partnership for Sonosite," said Kevin M. Goodwin, Sonosite President and CEO. "Our agreement with Aloka is a cornerstone of our strategy to serve the Japanese market by establishing multiple distribution channels through which Sonosite's products can be promoted across a broad clinical spectrum. We believe the market for hand-carried ultrasound systems could eventually equal or exceed Japan's current market for cart-based systems. We look forward to working with the Aloka team to further strengthen our position in and expanding this key market."
The TITAN system utilizes Sonosite's proprietary ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) technology to integrate millions of transistors onto one circuit, thereby reducing size while offering excellent image quality and performance in a highly durable design. Weighing only 7.7 pounds (3.5 kg), the TITAN system boots up in 12-seconds, is easy to use and can be hand-carried to wherever it is needed to immediately deliver patient care efficiently and effectively.
Japan is the world's second largest ultrasound market and according to Aloka accounted for an estimated $400 million in sales in 2003. The agreement with Aloka follows other steps Sonosite has taken in recent months to expand its presence in Japan. In February 2004, the Company opened Sonosite Japan KK, a wholly-owned subsidiary, to provide customer service, quality assurance, sales support and direct sales into certain clinical segments. Earlier this year, Sonosite also signed an agreement with Olympus Corporation targeted at the Japanese endoscopy market.
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.