GE Marquette Medical Systems and Critikon Sign Agreement to Form Global Alliance / Companies Join to Support a $2.2 Billion Global Patient Monitoring Market

Tampa, Fla. and Milwaukee (PROTEXT) - Critikon Company LLC and GE Marquette Medical Systems (NYSE: GE) announced today that the companies have agreed to form a global alliance to jointly develop and distribute patient monitoring equipment and supplies used in medical clinics and hospitals. In addition, Critikon will utilize GE Marquette's global service network to enhance the technical support it provides to customers. The alliance will join Critikon's strong line of DINAMAP(R) monitoring systems for sub-acute care with GE Marquette's respected offering of acute care monitoring and information systems including the recently introduced Solar(R) 9500 and Dash(R) patient monitors. Together through the alliance, Critikon and GE Marquette will be uniquely suited to support enterprise- wide network solutions for healthcare organizations around the world. "From routine office visits to critical care situations, our alliance with Critikon will support healthcare professionals with best-in-class patient monitoring and information systems," said Dr. Fred Robertson, president and CEO, GE Marquette. "We are pleased to provide a technology and service solution that supports the entire continuum of care." The alliance structure announced today will be implemented through a series of agreements to be negotiated between GE Marquette and Critikon. These implementation agreements will be designed to provide Critikon access to GE Marquette's Unity(TM) Network, Apex telemetry, Clinical Information Center (CIC) and Dash products, which provide hospitals with advanced clinical and networking capabilities. In return, GE Marquette will gain access to Critikon's DINAMAP technology and supplies, the industry's gold standard for non-invasive blood pressure monitoring. "This agreement signifies both companies' commitment to serving healthcare organizations with world-class, leading-edge products that share a common data communications package," said Gordie Nye, president and CEO of Critikon. "Our goal is to support a full range of patient monitoring needs and help healthcare professionals provide the most effective and efficient patient care." Critikon Company LLC is a leading provider of non-invasive blood pressure monitor devices (DINAMAP Monitors) and blood pressure cuffs. Critikon offers a full range of vital signs monitors and central station systems for use in the sub-acute segment of the hospital and non-hospital markets. Additional information about Critikon and its products can be found on the company's web site at http://www.critikon.com GE Marquette Medical Systems is a leading global provider of medical diagnostic equipment and services including diagnostic cardiology, patient monitoring and clinical information systems. GE Marquette, a GE Medical Systems Company, is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis. Additional information about GE Marquette and its products can be found on the company's web site at http://www.gemedicalsystems.com GE Medical Systems is a $6 billion business, employing nearly 20,000 people worldwide. ots Original Text Service: GE Marquette Medical Systems Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Jennifer Christiansen of GE Marquette Medical Systems (USA) 414- 362-2544, pager 888-970-1313, or Mike Genau of Critikon Company LLC (USA) 813-887-2103 Web site: http://www.critikon.com Web site: http://www.gemedicalsystems.com Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial service providing distribution of press releases from clients, who are identified in the text of Protext reports and who bear full responsibility for their contents. PROTEXT