[January 14, 2014]

FUJIFILM SonoSite and Vivid Medical Inc. Partner to Provide Access to a Low Cost, High-Resolution Video Intubation Solution

FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc., the world leader and pioneering specialist in bedside and point-of-care ultrasound, today announced a partnership with Vivid Medical Inc. of Palo Alto, CA (News - Alert), to co-promote the VividTrac® Video Intubation Device. VividTrac is the world's first and only single-use, "open access" video intubation device with a USB interface that connects easily to a variety of display options. By simply plugging the VividTrac device into a compatible system, clinicians will have access to high-resolution video intubation to enhance patient safety and care.

VividTrac® Video Intubation Device (Photo: Business Wire)

"There is significant clinical evidence supporting the speed and accuracy benefits^1-3 of video intubation," said FUJIFILM SonoSite's President and CEO Kevin M. Goodwin. "However, due to the limited number of available video intubation systems in some hospitals and clinics, video intubation is typically reserved for only the most difficult cases. By adding VividTrac's 'plug-and-play' intubation capabilities to our portfolio of point-of-care medical tools, SonoSite is able to build on its rich history of providing clinicians with access to new visualization technologies that help reduce risk and contribute to better and more affordable health care."

Developed by Vivid Medical, this pocket-sized, single-use device delivers a consistently high and reliable performance. With a built-in anti-fogging lens and magnified field of view, it provides clear, high-resolution images for accurate tube placement and high rates of first-pass intubation success. This is particularly important during emergency situations where every second is critical. And, because VividTrac is a single-use device with an integrated endotracheal tube (ETT) channel, no subsequent sterilization or special capital equipment purchase is required.

Mina Farr, the CEO of Vivid Medical and an expert in the field of opto-electronics and optical systems, said, "The ability to see what you're doing helps reduce complications associated with the traditional direct approach of intubating. Because it helps deliver better patient outcomes, I feel all patients should be intubated with the assistance of video. We designed VividTrac to address the high cost of ownership associated with video options availableon the market today."

Currently able to integrate with a variety of display options, VividTrac's architecture is being modified to enable its compatibility with SonoSite ultrasound systems. Because both video airway management and ultrasound play an important role in resuscitation, the convergence of these critical technologies has been enthusiastically applauded by customers shown demonstrations of VividTrac linked with SonoSite systems while still a work in progress. "Based upon this overwhelming feedback," said Goodwin, "we envision that many SonoSite ultrasound systems could be upgraded in the future to provide further access to video intubation. One of our ultimate goals is to achieve integration on all our devices."

VividTrac is now available in the United States through SonoSite. For more information, including how to purchase the device, visit http://www.sonosite.com/products/vividtrac.

About FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc.

FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. is the innovator and world leader in bedside and point-of-care ultrasound, and an industry leader in ultra high-frequency micro-ultrasound technology. Headquartered near Seattle, the company is represented by 26 subsidiaries and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. SonoSite's portable, compact systems are expanding the use of ultrasound across the clinical spectrum by cost-effectively bringing high-performance ultrasound to the point of patient care. For more information, go to: www.sonosite.com.

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, digital printing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 10 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2012, and in the year ended March 31, 2013, had global revenues of $26.7 billion*. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.

* At an exchange rate of 83 yen to the dollar.

About Vivid Medical

Vivid Medical was founded by Mina Farr in 2007 as a medical technology company that develops open system medical instruments that are compatible with today's digital environment and standards. The company's goal is to revolutionize medical imaging procedures by eliminating the need for investments in separate, standalone proprietary digital imaging, computing, communication, and storage systems. Visit www.vividmed.com for more information.

Clinical Evidence and Sources:

1. Nouruzi-Sedeh P, et al. Anesthesiology 2009; 110:32-7

2. Brown CA 3rd, et al. Annals Emer Med 56:83, 2010

3. Wayne MA, et al. Prehosp Emerg Care 14:278, 2010.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140114006162/en/

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