Reuters

Products to be launched at AARC International Respiratory Congress in Orlando, Florida

NEW YORK, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-First Call/ -- SPO Medical Inc.

(OTC Bulletin Board: SPOM), a leading developer of biosensor and microprocessor technologies for use in portable monitoring devices, will be demonstrating its new PulseOx 6000(TM) and PulseOx 6100(TM) in the US market at the 53rd Annual International Respiratory Congress of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in Orlando, Florida (December 1-3,2007).

The PulseOx 6000(TM) (finger device) and PulseOx 6100(TM) (hand-held device) have both been designed for use by medical professionals, hospitals and managed care facilities. Both the PulseOx 6000(TM) and PulseOx 6100(TM)use patented Reflective Pulse Oximetry (RPO) technology for accurate and reliable measurements of blood oxygen saturation and heart rate, and include the SPO Medical new AutoSpot(TM) technology for patients suffering low perfusion. Both products have regulatory clearance for marketing in the United States and are planned to become commercially available in the first quarter of 2008.

"We are delighted to introduce the PulseOx 6000(TM) and PulseOx 6100(TM)for the first time in the US at AARC's International Respiratory Congress, the most prestigious gathering of respiratory care professionals," said Michael Braunold, President and Chief Executive Officer of SPO Medical. "Our business strategy and product achievements to date are a testament to our continued success in delivering new life-saving and life-enhancing products to the respiratory marketplace."

AARC, a professional membership association of respiratory therapists, focuses primarily on respiratory therapy education and research. Its goals arête ensure that respiratory patients receive safe and effective care from qualified professionals and to benefit respiratory health care providers. Arc’s International Respiratory Congress is a one-stop destination for the latest scientific evidence on the care and treatment of respiratory conditions and the newest and most advanced respiratory technology.

SPO Medical will be located at booth #237 and their executives will be available to answer questions at the AARC International Respiratory Congress.

About SPO Medical:

SPO Medical (SPOM) a leading developer of biosensor and microprocessor technologies for use in portable monitoring devices to capture life-saving and life-enhancing information within four key markets: medical care; home and remote-care; sports and wellness; and safety and security. Its patented technology uses information gathered from the reflectance of light on the human blood stream, in a non-invasive manner, to monitor key vital signs. The Company distributes its products through a network of distributors and also licenses its technologies to appropriate client corporations for commercialization and distribution. For more information, visitwww.spomedical.com.

Safe Harbor:

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial uncertainties and risks. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and our industry, and that reflect our beliefs and assumptions based upon information available to us at the date of this release. We caution readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including but not limited to, changes in economic conditions generally and the medical devices market specifically, changes in technology, legislative or regulatory changes that affect us, the availability of working capital, changes in costs and the availability of goods and services, the introduction of competing products, planned product launches, changes in our operating strategy or development plans, our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, and the risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Item1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31,2006. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason. SOURCE SPO Medical Inc. Michael Braunold, CEO of SPO Medical Inc., 011-972-9-7643570,info@spomedical.com; or Christine J. Petraglia of Seventh Circle Consulting for SPO Medical Inc., +1-646-354-8886, investors@spomedical.com

CNN

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Masimo, the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry and Read-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, announced the completion of CHN's system-wide implementation of Masimo SET pulse oximetry. Building on a four-year history of superior Masimo SET performance in other areas of its network, CHN expanded the adoption of Masimo SET pulse oximetry technology to virtually every site -- making Masimo SET CHN's standard of care for precise, continuous SpO2 monitoring.

"The decision to convert our entire network to Masimo SET technology was an easy one," said Steve Erdosy, M.D., BioMed Clinical Engineer at Community Health Network. "The superior clinical performance we experienced with Masimo SET pulse oximetry in The Indiana Heart Hospital, which converted in 2003, prompted the need to have this advanced technology available in all our sites."

Ranked among the top 20 integrated health care networks in the nation, Community Health Network has more than 70 sites of care throughout central Indiana. This includes Community Hospitals East, North and South in Indianapolis and Community Hospital Anderson; The Indiana Heart Hospital, a dedicated heart hospital; Indiana Surgery Centers; Community Physicians of Indiana; Community Home Health Services; MedCheck urgent care centers; occupational health services; nursing homes; and other health care facilities. In 2006, CHN was recognized as a Performance Improvement Leader by Thomson Healthcare and, since 2001, has had fewer adverse patient safety events and discharged patients almost a day earlier.

In reaffirming the decision to convert system-wide to Masimo SET oximetry, Jan Nellinger, New Technology Analyst at Community Health Network, cited Masimo's seamless conversion as an added benefit: "The conversion was pretty invisible internally, except that the addition of the new Masimo SET pulse oximeters was a big hit with our clinical staff."

By making the conversion to Masimo, the Community Health Network joins other top hospitals in the United States -- including four of the top five -- as listed on the US News & World Report Honor Roll, which have all adopted Masimo SET as their primary pulse oximetry platform. Masimo SET is widely recognized as the most accurate and reliable pulse oximetry technology in the world, clinically proven in more than 100 independent and objective studies to provide the most trustworthy SpO2 readings even under the most difficult clinical conditions, including patient motion and low peripheral perfusion. These studies prove Masimo SET delivers improvements in outcomes, safety and efficiency.

Community Health Network's system-wide conversion included standardizing virtually all of CHN's sites of care to Masimo SET pulse oximeters and sensors. Masimo advanced technology and sensor design increases the durability and longevity of the sensors and cables connecting the patient to the pulse oximeter. Made of a durable, non-absorbent tape material that extends the life of the sensor during single patient use, Masimo adhesive sensors have been shown to reduce sensor usage 49% to 56%(1,2).

"Having an adhesive sensor with the accuracy and reliability of Masimo SET is a huge benefit that helps us to keep our patients safer with readings we can depend on, while Masimo's durability helps us to realize greater sensor efficiencies," continued Dr. Erdosy.

Joe E. Kiani, CEO of Masimo, stated, "Community Health Network of Indianapolis' system-wide conversion and standardization to Masimo SET pulse oximetry is a particularly rewarding milestone that grew organically from clinical preference and adoption of Masimo SET technology within one department to virtually all departments in their network. We are proud to extend our partnership with CHN as they continue to leverage best-in-class technology to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare in the greater Indianapolis community."

About Masimo

Masimo develops innovative monitoring technologies that significantly improve patient care -- helping solve "unsolvable" problems. In 1995, the company debuted Read-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, known as SET, and with it substantially reduced false alarms and increased pulse oximetry's ability to detect life-threatening events. More than 100 independent clinical and laboratory studies have confirmed that Masimo SET technology allows clinicians to accurately monitor blood oxygen saturation in critical care situations. Our Masimo SET platform has significantly addressed many of the previous technology limitations, has substantially contributed to improved patient outcomes and has been referred to by several industry sources as the gold standard in pulse oximetry. In 2005, Masimo introduced Masimo Rainbow SET Pulse CO-Oximetry, which, for the first time, noninvasively monitors the level of carbon monoxide and methemoglobin in the blood, allowing early detection and treatment of potentially life-threatening conditions. Founded in 1989, Masimo has the mission of "Improving Patient Outcomes and Reducing Cost of Care by Taking Noninvasive Monitoring to New Sites and Applications." Additional information about Masimo and its products may be found at http://www.masimo.com.

Masimo, SET, Signal Extraction Technology, Radical, Radical-7, Rad57, APOD, and Improving Outcomes and Reducing Cost of Care by Taking Noninvasive Monitoring to New Sites and Applications are registered trademarks of Masimo Corporation. ARM, Acoustic Respiratory Monitoring, BiFi, Rainbow, SpCO, SpMet, SpHb and Pulse CO-Oximeter are trademarks of Masimo Corporation.

(1) Holmes M, Thomas A, Vogt J, Gangitano E, Stephenson C, Liberman R.
Useful Life of Pulse CO-Oximeter Sensors in the NICU. Respiratory
Care 1998;43(10):860
(2) Erler T, Avenarius S, Wichniewski E, Schmidt K, Klaber H. Longevity
of Masimo and Nellcor Pulse Oximeter Sensors in the Care of Infants.
J. Perinatol., 2003;23:133-135

Contact:
Tom McCall
Masimo Corporation
949-297-7075

10:17am Thu 29th November

Our very own mum-to-be Kelly Young sat down with Sonographer Celia Goldsmith from Maidenhead and asked the questions every pregnant woman wants to ask:
Q&A: Celia Goldsmith, sonographer

Do you have any children?
Yes I have 2 girls and 2 boys aged 17, 16, 14, and 10, so the pain of childbirth is a distant memory - now I’m experiencing the pain of adolescence.

And have you had a 4D scan? If so what did you think of it?
Sadly I haven’t had a 4D scan as they weren’t available when I was pregnant! How I wish they were. I think they’re amazing; it must be such an emotional experience for new mothers these days to see their unborn baby’s face! We’ve had many couples become quite emotional when they see their baby’s face pop up on the screen for the first time.

How long have you been a sonographer?
I have been a sonographer for over 20 years and still love my job.

What training should a sonographer hold and how long do you train?
A qualified sonographer should hold a D.M.U (Diploma of Medical Ultrasound) certificate. I first trained for 2 years as a radiographer to gain my D.C.R. (Diploma of College of Radiographers) and then as an ultrasonographer for a year. Nowadays it’s a 3 year degree course for Radiographers and a post graduate certificate in obstetric ultrasound for 1 year.

Have you worked in an NHS hospital doing scans?
My radiography scan training was at Guys Hospital and then I moved on to Queen Mary’s in Roehampton. I also trained at Kings College for ultrasound and scanned at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital.
After starting a family I moved nearer to home and scanned at Heatherwood and St Marks’s Hospital. I have also worked in the private sector at Princess Margaret Hospital and The Bridge Clinic in Maidenhead.

How does it compare to what you’re doing now?
The London Ultrasound Centre is a much calmer, more relaxing place to work. I am privileged to work beside Mr. Maxwell the Medical Director, and to have access to state of the art equipment in a really modern facility. I have more time to spend with our patients and it’s very satisfying when they enjoy the experience.

What do you like most about your job?
The thing I most I like about my job is that I am always learning and updating my knowledge. With 4D ultrasound being relatively new there are new advancements and developments to pick up almost every day. Before I started at the London Ultrasound Centre I’d never even performed a 4D scan.

What is the mark of a good sonographer?
The mark of a good sonographer is someone who is versatile, friendly and makes a mother’s experience special every time. Never forget what it was like when you were a first time mum to be. Keeping up good practice is essential and a regular audit of one’s own work also keeps you fresh and ahead of the game.

Do you have any particular funny/interesting story about a scan you’ve carried out?
We had one couple who came in for a 4D scan who couldn’t stop laughing when they saw their baby. The mother was making comments to the father like; “Look at his big fat tummy, he’s just like you!” And he said that the baby’s lips were just like hers. They were so funny together it was making me giggle and I struggled to hold the ultrasound probe steady. I’m sure their DVD has moments of wiggling pictures when I’m laughing out loud. I especially remember that scan as they were enjoying it so much.

I’ve had two very different experiences of scans, one bad and one good, and it was all down to the attitude of the sonographer. How do you strike a balance between doing your job and the needs of the parents-to-be?
Striking the balance between a performing your job to the highest standard and the needs of parents can be tricky, but giving full, honest explanations of what we are doing and why seems to strike the happy medium.

4D Ultrasound scans are becoming more and more popular, why is this?
4D scans are more widely available because the technology is better and more available. With modern parents being so time pressured they are seeking earlier opportunities to bond with their unborn child and 4D scans are a great way to do this. And with digital technology making image capture and display so easy who wouldn’t want to take home a DVD or prints of their unborn baby to proudly show friends and family?

How does a 4D scan work, how is the picture put together?
The clever part of the 4D scan is the computer inside the ultrasound machine. It arranges lots of 2D pictures together several times per second and adds colour to produce a realistic 3D image. The 4th dimension is time and because the computer is so fast you can actually watch your baby moving, yawning, scratching its nose, stretching in real time. Sometimes with twins they often prod each other!

When can you have a 4D scan?
4D scans can be integrated into any scan that we do at The London Ultrasound Centre however the most attractive pictures are obtained between 24 and 34 weeks when the baby has put on some puppy fat and filled out a bit. At The London Ultrasound Centre we are pioneering new techniques with 4D scanning where a mother to be can take home a professionally edited DVD of 4D images of her baby from the very first scan at around 9 weeks (when baby is the size of a bean) all the way up to her last scan when her baby is fully formed at 38 weeks.

Is there anything a M2B could do beforehand to improve the image?
The main things that influence the quality of the pictures are the stage of the pregnancy, the position of the baby and to some extent the size of the mum. Ultrasound doesn’t travel well through body fat and if mum has been piling on the pounds then it’s more difficult to obtain good 4D images.
The biggest factor however is the position of the baby, and we can’t determine that until we actually start the scan. That’s why with our Cocoon4D service have a range of options that the parents can add on once they have had their 4D scan.
On the odd occasion when baby is in an impossible position for 4D images we strongly advise parents not to waste the opportunity and let the sonographer perform a Growth Scan to check the health and well being of their baby. After all it may be the last scan a mother has before birth.
Ironically when a baby is in a difficult position eating chocolate and drinking sweet fizzy drinks sometime stimulate the baby to pose for pictures!

Although a 4D scan isn’t a medical scan, if a sonographer picked up a possible abnormality would you tell the parents?
Yes, absolutely. We are fortunate at the London Ultrasound Centre to have a team of Fetal Medicine Specialists available and so if any abnormality were spotted we would be able to discuss the findings with the parents and offer a complete management plan. Generally a 4D scan is only performed after the 20 week anomaly scan has confirmed all the structures of the baby, so any abnormality should have already been detected.

Are there any risks involved in a 4D scan?
The scan process is the same as for an ordinary 2D scan. In this regard a 4D scan is really no different from a 2D scan but the images are displayed in a more attractive way. It is important to remember that the majority of women who are pregnant these days will have been scanned themselves while they were still inside their mother’s womb.

Is it possible not to find out the sex of your baby with a 4D scan, or will parents-to-be have to find out because they are so detailed?
Babies are not always that willing to show their genitals off to us in a 4D scan so we don’t have to divulge the sex of the baby to the parents. An experienced sonographer can determine gender clearly on a 2D scans if the baby is obliging.
We had one well known celebrity and his partner who didn’t want to know the sex but their baby revealed all while I was lining up the scan image in 2D. Of course I kept that information to myself but one always has to be careful not to give the game away accidentally!

Mobilemag.com

If you're a typical MacBook Pro user you are probably pretty smug about all the things you can do with your machine, but I am pretty sure that you have never used it for something like this. Siemens has modified the MacBook Pro to become a powerful, portable ultrasound machine. The P50 will allow doctors and other medical professionals the ability to travel wherever they need to go without sacrificing the equipment they need.

Though most people will think of growing fetuses when they hear ultrasound, this machine is instead designed for vascular and cardiology applications. It comes with a range of cardiology applications including an integrated stress echo function. Since portability was the obvious goal, Siemens worked hard to simplify the ultrasound process, and to shorten the time it takes.

That's a pretty impressive use for a Mac computer, but don't expect it to show up in Apple commercials any time soon - Siemens chose to use Windows as the operating system for the P50.

Boston Globe

November 5, 2007

The small electronic device a nurse attaches to the end of your index finger with a plastic clip calculates how much oxygen is carried in your blood. It's based on measuring the difference between levels of the red pigment hemoglobin which carries oxygen in your blood. It turns out that oxygenated hemoglobin ("oxyhemoglobin") and nonoxygenated hemoglobin ("deoxyhemoglobin") in your blood are different colors. That thing on your finger has two light-emitting diodes - one that sends out invisible infrared light and one that sends out red light.

The exact colors are chosen to coincide with the maximum differences in colors of light absorbed by each form of hemoglobin. The difference between the two gives a measure of what fraction of the hemoglobin in your blood is oxygenated and thus how much oxygen is being carried around inside you.

Things are not quite so simple, however, as the light must pass through your skin, there's bone in the way, etc. so there's one more trick that's used. In time with your pulse, your finger gets a little bigger and smaller depending on how engorged it is with blood, but the skin and bone remain the same. By comparing the amount of each color of light that gets through with your finger most and least full of blood it's possible to see the effects of the blood itself - and that's finally what gets you a clean oxygen reading without the need to break your skin.

Doctors find this information useful to figure out if your heart/ lungs/ blood are all working together to get oxygen delivered to all the various parts of your body. The test isn't perfect - for example, you could have poor overall blood flow and still a high level of oxygenation.

The test can also be faked out by other things that can influence blood color. For example, exposure to carbon monoxide can give an incorrect reading, but more sophisticated pulse oximeters can use other colors of light to sort out how much hemoglobin has got carbon monoxide stuck to it instead of oxygen.

Dr. Knowledge is written by physicists Stephen Reucroft and John Swain, both of Northeastern University. E-mail questions to drknowledge@globe.com or write Dr. Knowledge, c/o The Boston Globe, PO Box 55819, Boston, MA 02205-5819.

As posted on Pulsetoday

Practical advice from Dr Kathryn Griffith, secretary of the Primary Care
Cardiovascular Society

1

Make sure the ECG machine is always charged up and ready to use and ensure you
always have spare electrodes. Patients who have palpitations in the surgery
can’t always wait to come back to have an ECG. By then the rhythm may be back to
normal and a valuable chance to make a diagnosis will be lost. Make sure the
team members who are recording ECGs are trained in the correct techniques to
produce quality recordings. Chest hair should be removed and chest leads placed
in relation to intercostal spaces and not pendulous breasts!

2

Always try to have a standardised technique for reporting ECG. Don’t get
distracted at the start by something you are not sure about. Often abnormalities
fall into place during the reporting process.

3

Look at the rhythm strip at the bottom first. What is the heart rate? Divide the
number of large squares between the qrs complexes into 300.

4

Then logically analyse the p wave, the pr interval and the qrs complex. What is
the rhythm? Is there evidence of atrial depolarisation? Is the rhythm regular?
What is the relationship between atrial (p wave), and ventricular depolarisation
(qrs complex)?

When there are more p waves than qrs complexes this indicates block at the AV
nodal level. This is commonly seen with atrial flutter where there are regular
atrial waves at 300 beats per minute and block at the AV node giving 2:1 block
and a regular ventricular rate of 150 or 3:1 block and a rate of 100 beats per
minute.

5

Work along the trace to the pr interval. Is the timing between the start of the
atrial depolarisation (p wave) and the ventricular depolarisation (qrs complex)
normal? A very short time might suggest an ectopic focus such as a nodal rhythm,
and a long time might be related to AV nodal block.

6

The next step is to look at the axis. You now can move to the other leads on the
recording. This usually refers to the axis of ventricular depolarisation in the
limb leads. Remember that lead 1 is at 0 degrees and aVF at 90 degrees. A normal
axis lies between lead aVL (-30 degrees) and 90 degrees. The easy approach is to
look at leads 1 and aVF and if the ventricular complexes are positive then the
axis is normal.

7

Are the qrs complexes normal width? Look at the chest leads. Is there evidence
of bundle branch block? Remember that right bundle branch block may be a normal
variant while left bundle branch block should make you suspect underlying
pathology.

8

Look at the T waves, which should be the same polarity as the qrs complex.
Inverted T waves are common in lead III and aVL when the axis is zero and do not
necessarily indicate a myocardial infarct.

9

Remember that the ECG is only part of the assessment of the patient. If a
patient is fit and well and the ECG report suggests ventricular fibrillation,
check the leads first and make sure there is no electrical interference in the
room.

10

The integrated computers in modern ECG machines tend to over-diagnose
abnormalities. Always try to report the ECG yourself first without looking at
the report and if necessary have one GP in the practice who is confident at
looking over all the ECGs done in the practice. The more you look at the better
you will get.

You might be able to get some back-up from a local GPSI in cardiology or a
cardiac physiologist or cardiologist at the local hospital. Some specialists are
unhappy to look at an ECG alone without being able to assess the patient.

Dr Kathryn Griffith is a GP in York and secretary of the Primary Care
Cardiovascular Society

Competing interests None declared

New ACUSON S2000 Ultrasound System Dramatically Enhances the Way Ultrasound
 Departments Work and Provides a Platform for Cutting-Edge Technology and
                               Applications

   CHICAGO, Nov. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 93rd Scientific Sessions and
Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) from
Nov. 25 to 30 at McCormick Place (Booth 7713, Hall B), Siemens Medical
Solutions (http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical) will unveil the ACUSON S2000(TM)
ultrasound platform, the first system in Siemens' new S Class of ultrasound
products. It will have capabilities for paradigm-shifting applications such
as Acoustic Radiation Forced Impulse (ARFI)* imaging and is prepared to
integrate Silicon Ultrasound++ technology.

   (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO )

   "We see ARFI and Silicon Ultrasound as the biggest changes in the
industry since Doppler imaging became clinically useful," said Klaus
Hambuchen, president, Siemens Medical Solutions, Ultrasound Division. "The
ACUSON S2000 system represents the pinnacle of innovative technology,
workflow-enhancing clinical applications and state-of-the-art ergonomic
design. It is our new premier general imaging platform that will change the
way ultrasound is viewed today."

   Siemens will also showcase its X Class solutions, which include the
ACUSON X150(TM) and ACUSON X300(TM) ultrasound systems, as well as the P
Class of portable solutions with the handheld ACUSON P10(TM) and the
laptop-based ACUSON P50(TM) system.

   Next Generation Ultrasound

   Covering the entire continuum of care from screening to diagnosis to
therapy and follow-up, the new ACUSON S2000 ultrasound system will feature
applications across general imaging, including obstetrics and gynecology
(OB/GYN), as well as vascular and cardiac imaging.

   The ACUSON S2000 is Siemens' new platform for some of the most
innovative ultrasound applications, including ARFI, which uses acoustic
energy to displace tissue for a qualitative and quantitative assessment of
deep tissue stiffness. Current research suggests that this type of
assessment may be useful for differentiation in abnormalities such as liver
tumors or the quantification of fibrosis progression.

   The ACUSON S2000 system is also capable of integrating Siemens'
groundbreaking Silicon Ultrasound technology, which introduces the first
entirely new class of ultrasound transducers in 40 years. Silicon
Ultrasound technology uses the precise semiconductor processing techniques
of the computer chip industry to create a family of probes that will enable
volumetric 4D imaging in a wide range of applications. With Silicon
Ultrasound, clinicians will get true isotropic 3D images enabling them to
see the same fine level of detail in each direction that they choose to
examine the imaging data. At RSNA, Siemens will present the power of this
approach in breast imaging and other high-resolution applications.

   Additionally, Siemens is preparing the ACUSON S2000 system for
Automated Breast Scanning (ABS), a technique that provides automated,
reproducible 3D ultrasound volumes of the breast. ABS is an important tool
in the screening, diagnosis and follow-up care of breast cancer
supplementing mammography, especially in women with dense breast tissue.
ABS reduces acquisition variability and cycle time when compared to manual
breast ultrasound, making it more reproducible and consistent for
interpreting physicians.

   Increased Clinical Confidence

   The ACUSON S2000 ultrasound system improves clinical confidence with a
number of intelligent applications. For instance, Advanced SieClear(TM)
spatial compounding uses electronic beam steering to rapidly acquire
overlapping images from different view angles. The technique enhances
anatomic border definition and improves overall tissue contrast.

   In combination with Dynamic TCE(TM) tissue contrast enhancement, it
further reduces speckle/noise and enhances borders. Dynamic TCE can improve
subtle tissue differentiation especially for patients who are technically
difficult to image. The ACUSON S2000 system will be the first to deliver 3D
TCE with speckle reduction allowing for stellar 3D images.

   Users also benefit from access to advanced HD (high density) transducer
technology using extremely fine pitch to double the transducer elements
yielding superior lateral and contrast resolution. Siemens Hanafy lens
transducer technology and Multi-D(TM) array technology also improve slice
thickness and image uniformity with a high degree of reliability and an
improved signal-to-noise ratio for high-frequency imaging.

   Knowledge-Based Workflow

   Siemens will also deliver knowledge-based workflow applications that
dramatically improve the efficiency of ultrasound exams. For instance, with
syngo(R) Auto OB, users can generate semi-automatic biometric fetal
measurements. syngo Auto OB saves up to 75 percent of the keystrokes in
routine fetal exams. The ACUSON S2000 system also takes advantage of
Advanced fourSight(TM) technology which has enhanced functionality for
volumetric acquisition, data rendering and post-processing. The software
also includes Amnioscopic Rendering, which provides a unique
surface-rendering technique for stunningly realistic and detailed views of
the fetus.

   Additional Fetal Heart STIC (Spatio-Temporal Image Correlation) imaging
captures data over multiple heart cycles and creates a 3D fetal heart
volume that allows sonographers to view the heart in multiple planes.

   syngo eSie Calcs(TM) introduces border detection technology which
segments an area of interest and provides automatic calculations. By simply
defining a boundary box, the application traces lesions and automatically
calculates the volume in 3D or the area in 2D.

   Ergonomic Improvements

   Besides using the latest technology advancements and applications to
improve efficiency and workflow, Siemens has also addressed the ergonomic
design of the ACUSON S2000 system. It boasts a simple, intuitive user
interface with an adaptable design and user-customizable controls
preventing repetitive motion injuries experienced by many clinicians today.
The system also sports motor-memory learning features in a small,
lightweight package. The adjustable system keyboard and 19-inch flat-panel
monitor accommodate users of various heights and various scanning
positions.

   Small Is the New Big

   Earlier this year, Siemens introduced the handheld ACUSON P10(TM)
ultrasound system. A little larger than a common PDA, the ACUSON P10 weighs
only 1.6 pounds, and fits easily into a lab coat pocket. It is intended for
complementary initial diagnostic care and triage, particularly in emergency
care, obstetrics and cardiology. The system can be used by physicians and
medical personnel in a number of environments including intensive care
units, ambulances and medevac helicopters. It can also be used to detect
conditions that may be clinically significant, but have previously required
expansive or invasive diagnostic testing in asymptomatic patients.

   Hand-Carried Ultrasound

   With the introduction of the ACUSON P50(TM) hand-carried ultrasound
system, Siemens is addressing the evolving needs of communication in
medicine. The ACUSON P50 system offers ultrasound, communication and
computer functionality in one sleek, elegant laptop-based system. Designed
for mobile use in cardiology and vascular imaging, the system provides
excellent tissue differentiation, high spatial and temporal resolution, as
well as color and Doppler imaging. The ACUSON P50 can integrate syngo
Ultrasound Workplace(TM) for performing advanced clinical applications as
well as image review and analysis. It operates on a standard Windows(R)
laptop for ease-of-use and PC-related productivity benefits. The system
travels anywhere, anytime ultrasound imaging solutions are needed.

   X Class

   Siemens will also showcase its X Class family of products, the ACUSON
X150 and X300 ultrasound systems. Both are excellent solutions for
mid-sized facilities and deliver an outstanding combination of diagnostic
performance, ergonomics and scalability. The ACUSON X300 is an all-purpose
ultrasound system that provides a compact, portable color Doppler solution
and delivers exceptional clinical performance across a wide variety of
applications. The system can be equipped for streamlined exam workflow, and
it boasts an ErgoDynamic design to maximize user comfort. When mobility is
of the essence, or space is limited, the fully featured ACUSON X300 system
meets the most demanding operational and clinical challenges.

   Compact and portable, the ACUSON X150 system is designed to fit the
clinical needs of busy general imaging settings and grow as patient
requirements or clinical applications evolve. Platform upgradeability
allows the user total flexibility to add sensitive color and power Doppler
capabilities and a cardiac screening application. The ACUSON X150 features
3-Scape(TM) real-time 3D imaging for the construction of real-time 3D
images during free-hand acquisition.

   About Siemens Medical Solutions

   Siemens Medical Solutions is one of the world's largest suppliers to
the healthcare industry. The company is a renowned medical solutions
provider with core competence and innovative strength in diagnostic and
therapeutic technologies as well as in knowledge engineering, including
information technology and system integration. With its laboratory
diagnostics acquisitions, Siemens Medical Solutions will be the first fully
integrated diagnostics company, bringing together imaging and lab
diagnostics, therapy, and healthcare information technology solutions,
supplemented by consulting and support services. The company delivers
solutions across the entire continuum of care -- from prevention and early
detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care. Siemens Medical Solutions
employs more than 48,000 people worldwide and operates in 130 countries. In
the fiscal year 2007 (until Sept. 30th), Siemens Medical Solutions reported
sales of euro 9,85 billion, orders of euro 10,27 billion, and group profit
of euro 1,32 billion (preliminary figures, unaudited). Further information
can be found by visiting http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical.



   *  ARFI is a Works in Progress and information about this product is
      preliminary. The product is under development and not commercially
      available in the U.S., and its future availability cannot be ensured.

   ++ Silicon Ultrasound is a Works in Progress and information about this
      product is preliminary. The product is under development and not
      commercially available in the U.S., and its future availability cannot
      be ensured.

SOURCE Siemens Medical Solutions

MONTVALE, N.J., Nov. 26, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Datascope Corp. (Nasdaq:DSCP) today announced that it has signed an agreement with a prestigious teaching hospital in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States for the first beta site installation of its new, revolutionary Clinical Alert System, NetGuard(tm). On October 1, 2007, Datascope announced that it received U.S. FDA clearance to market NetGuard in the United States.

Commenting on NetGuard, Dr. Antonino Laudani, Datascope's Chief Operating Officer, explained, "The beta site will provide for the simultaneous, continuous wireless NetGuard monitoring of fifty patients who, under other circumstances, would not have been monitored. In the past, greater use of conventional monitoring has been discouraged by the high cost of other equipment and staffing."

Datascope's initial focus is to create selected beta site installations and then launch its national sales campaign for NetGuard. The beta sites are expected to turn into reference sites for NetGuard. Reference sites will be instrumental in promoting acceptance and sales of NetGuard in the broader market by physicians and hospitals nationwide and around the world."

David Gibson, Patient Monitoring Division President, added, "NetGuard promises not only to meet an important potentially lifesaving medical need but also opens a new market that Datascope estimates could be more than $1 billion annually in the U.S. alone. We are very pleased and excited by the positive response to NetGuard demonstrations at recent meetings of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Emergency Nurses Association, and from the first sales calls that began in the current month."

According to data published by the American Hospital Association, 60% of the U.S. hospital census is currently not monitored continuously primarily because conventional monitoring has high cost in terms of both equipment and staffing. This under-addressed market equates to more than 100 million patients annually either not monitored at all or monitored only during surgeries, post-anesthesia care, and certain other procedures. In addition, based on data from the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Datascope estimates that tens of thousands of patients die each year from cardiac arrest precipitated by a dangerous heart rhythm that is unrelated to the patient's natural illness.

NetGuard creates a new paradigm in patient monitoring because it is the first monitoring system that is specifically designed to protect today's unmonitored patient by detecting life-threatening heart rhythms. Featuring a novel wireless ECG monitor weighing less than one ounce, NetGuard signals an alert by pager to designated hospital staff immediately upon detecting such a rhythm. Immediate detection permits the early treatment of dangerous heart rhythms, and early treatment has been shown to significantly increase survival.

NetGuard monitoring offers a protective safety net for all currently unmonitored patients while providing the following economic and clinical incentives for continuous monitoring not possible with conventional monitors: First, the NetGuard equipment infrastructure per patient is a small fraction of the cost of a conventional patient monitor. Second, the cost of the single-use element (batteries and electrodes) of NetGuard is also highly affordable. Third, the NetGuard ECG monitor, weighing less than an ounce, doesn't interfere with a patient's mobility. Fourth, the use of NetGuard would reduce overcrowding by increasing throughput in certain key hospital departments such as post-anesthesia recovery. And finally, Datascope also believes that NetGuard would reduce liability exposure that hospitals currently have in respect of an unexpected and potentially catastrophic heart rhythm.

About Datascope Corp.

Datascope Corp. is the global leader of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation and a diversified medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets proprietary products for clinical health care markets in interventional cardiology and radiology, cardiovascular and vascular surgery, patient monitoring, anesthesiology, emergency medicine and critical care. The Company's products are sold throughout the world through direct sales representatives and independent distributors. Founded in 1964, Datascope is headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey. For news releases, webcasts and other Company information please visit Datascope's website, www.datascope.com.

The Datascope Corp. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3953

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These factors include, but are not limited to, the risk that NetGuard does not have the potential to create a new, significant market in monitoring currently unmonitored patients, that Datascope is not the first company to address this market, that NetGuard will not be a significant opportunity for new growth or may not be accepted in the marketplace, that technical difficulties may arise impeding the acceptance of the system, and that market conditions may change, particularly as the result of competitive activity in the markets served by Datascope. Datascope's filings with the SEC can be obtained at no charge at www.sec.gov, as well as through our website at www.datascope.com.

CONTACT:  Datascope Corp.
        Henry Scaramelli, Chief Financial Officer
        (201) 307-5435
        www.datascope.com

China.org

What if your doctor could swipe a wand over your neck and reveal whether you have hidden heart disease?

That is now possible in places other than the sickbay of the Starship Enterprise.

Miniature ultrasound machines are starting to make their way into ordinary doctors' offices, where they may someday be as common as stethoscopes and EKGs. A pocket-sized one weighing less than one kilogram hit the United States market last week.

Some of these devices can make images of neck arteries, which offer a "window" to heart arteries that cannot easily be seen. If the neck vessels are clogged, doctors know that those around the heart probably are, too, and that treatment or more testing is needed.

The new ultrasound machines offer a relatively cheap, painless way to screen people with no symptoms of heart problems for signs of hidden trouble.

Is that a good thing?

Many doctors say yes, because for one-third of heart disease sufferers, the first symptom is dropping dead of a heart attack. Finding these people early and treating them could save lives. The test may be especially good for women, who often have few traditional signs.

Lisa Rosenstock of Madison, in the US state of Wisconsin, is an example. At age 41, this trim, athletic mom had normal cholesterol and blood pressure but a troubling family history of heart attacks. Ultrasound revealed a big clog in the main artery from her heart to her head.

Her cardiologist, Dr James Stein of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, put her on medicines to lower her risk of a heart attack or stroke. He also is leading a study aimed at making ultrasound testing more common.

"There's a great need for a non-invasive and safe way to identify people who don't have signs but have risk" of heart disease, he said.

But there are potential downsides. The mini machines will put this testing into the hands of a lot more people than those with the extensive training required to do it properly. Suddenly, small-town family doctors could be seeing scary-looking artery buildups and may rush to treat some that may never threaten a patient's life.

Patients, too, will see these pictures. Some may be motivated to quit smoking, lose weight or go on cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. But many also may be treated unnecessarily, and have side effects from that.

Ultrasounds also are being advertised directly to consumers - the latest "peace of mind" test like whole-body CT scans and MRIs for those rich and worried enough to pay hundreds of dollars for them.

Some drug makers are helping promote ultrasound testing, because it could lead to more people taking cholesterol pills. Last year, a group of doctors and imaging experts called for wider screening. Their opinions were published as a supplement to the American Journal of Cardiology paid for by Pfizer Inc, which sells the statin Lipitor.

British-based AstraZeneca PLC is seeking federal approval to expand marketing of its statin, Crestor, based on ultrasound testing that showed the drug could prevent artery buildups from getting worse.

The American Heart Association and other major cardiology groups say that ultrasound testing with big, conventional machines can help doctors determine heart risk in certain patients. But they do not endorse widespread screening with the smaller devices because evidence of benefit is lacking.

Guidelines from several groups on who should use the small ultrasound devices and on which patients are expected next spring.

On balance, many doctors see more promise than peril.

"It's equivalent to a mammogram of the heart," said Dr Christopher Rembold, a cardiologist at the University of Virginia. If doctors see something suspicious, they can refer patients to specialists for more extensive tests before deciding whether or how to treat it, he said.

Screening involves checking for buildups called plaque and measuring the thickness of the wall of the main neck artery. Normal thickness varies by age, race and sex, and charts give doctors detailed guidance. Too-thick arteries are a sign of higher risk for heart attack.

Until recently, only ultrasound specialists did these tests, which were analyzed by a radiologist. That often meant patients needed another appointment at a hospital or ultrasound center, and a return trip to their primary doctor for results.

The new portable ultrasound devices are changing that. They mostly are used in emergency rooms to check for problems with the heart's valves or pumping capacity, or bulging abdominal arteries threatening to rupture.

(Shanghai Daily November 14, 2007)

By Julie Steenhuysen -Reuters.com

CHICAGO, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Fans of TV emergency room dramas already know the drill: shout "Clear," place the paddles on the chest and watch the lifeless heart patient revive.

When that drama takes place in an airport or shopping mall, bystanders using battery-powered defibrillators may be saving more than 500 lives every year in the United States and Canada alone, researchers reported on Monday.

"Good Samaritans, when given access to automated defibrillators in potentially fatal emergencies, save lives," Dr. Myron Weisfeldt, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, who worked on the study, said in a statement.

The devices are designed to treat sudden cardiac arrest, a potentially deadly event in which the heart stops contracting and fails to pump blood properly.

The laptop-sized, portable defibrillators come with a full set of instructions, guiding even untrained bystanders through the rescue process. Once electrodes are placed on the victim's chest, the machine analyzes the person's heart rhythm and delivers a shock if needed.

The study, conducted in 11 cities in the United States and Canada, involved an analysis of patient records from more than 10,600 incidents of cardiac arrest called into 911 emergency telephone lines.

Bystanders administered CPR in nearly 30 percent of the cases and offered CPR plus an automated defibrillator in 2.4 percent of the cases, Weisfeldt told an American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Florida.

"Only 259 patients had an AED applied by a bystander. Their survival is very good. If they needed a shock and the device shocked them, they had a 36 percent survival rate. That compares to the overall survival rate of 7 percent," Weisfeldt said in a telephone interview.

Because the automated defibrillators are in public places where people tend to get fast emergency care, the researchers figure survival rates with a defibrillator are about 2.5 times better than with CPR alone.

"If the same thing is going on in the rest of the United States, there may be as many as 522 lives being saved by AEDs," Weisfeldt said.

He said the study makes the case for wider use of the devices.

"If you've got a building with 1,000 people and the cost of putting in the device is $3,000, it means $3 per person is the cost of having it, which is less than the cost of the latte I had this morning," he said.

About 300,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac death each year. (Editing by Maggie Fox and Eric Beech)