CHELMSFORD, MASS. — ZOLL Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: ZOLL), a manufacturer of resuscitation devices and related software solutions, announced today that it has received approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to market the ZOLL AutoPulse® Non-invasive Cardiac Support Pump to hospitals and emergency medical services in Japan.
The product will be sold through ZOLL’s exclusive distributor in Japan, Nihon Kohden Corporation, which is Japan’s largest distributor of medical equipment. In May 2006, ZOLL announced a five-year agreement with Nihon Kohden to market and sell the AutoPulse in Japan.
“We are pleased to help bring this new CPR-assist device to hospitals and emergency personnel in Japan,” said Masami Sugiyama, General Manager of Import Business Operations, Nihon Kohden. “We believe that this technology has great potential to help professional rescuers improve resuscitation efforts.”
According to the latest information available from the MHLW, there are an estimated 9,500 hospitals and 88,000 clinics in Japan. In addition, Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency notes that there are approximately 900 fire defense headquarters around Japan that are staffed with special rescue teams to provide emergency services.
According to Richard A. Packer, President and Chief Executive Officer of ZOLL, “This approval allows us access to the world’s second largest market for medical devices. We are pleased to have received this approval so that we can begin to realize sales in this market.”
About the AutoPulse
The AutoPulse is an automated, portable device with a simple, load-distributing LifeBand® that squeezes the entire chest in a consistent, uninterrupted “hands-free” manner, delivering maximum blood flow to the heart and brain.* Additionally, it offers the benefit of freeing up rescuers to focus on other life-saving interventions.
About ZOLL Medical Corporation
ZOLL Medical Corporation is committed to developing technologies that help advance the practice of resuscitation. With products for pacing, defibrillation, circulation, ventilation, and fluid resuscitation, ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies that help clinicians, EMS professionals, and lay rescuers resuscitate sudden cardiac arrest or trauma victims. ZOLL also designs and markets software that automates the documentation and management of both clinical and non-clinical information.
ZOLL markets and sells its products in more than 140 countries. The Company has direct operations, distributor networks, and business partners throughout the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. For more information, visit www.zoll.com or call +1 (978) 421-9655.
Certain statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, ZOLL’s ability to compete in the resuscitation business; acceptance of its recently launched products; changes in regulations affecting the healthcare industry; global economic conditions; and those other factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in ZOLL’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which was filed with the SEC on August 11, 2006.
©2006 ZOLL Medical Corporation. All rights reserved. 269 Mill Road, -4105. AutoPulse, LifeBand, and ZOLL are registered trademarks of ZOLL Medical Corporation. All product names are the property of their respective owners.Chelmsford, MA 01824
*Clinical data available upon request