Aloka Announces Alliance With SonoSite for Distribution of SonoSite's TITAN(TM) System in Japan

Aloka Announces Alliance With SonoSite for Distribution of
SonoSite's TITAN(TM) System in Japan 


TOKYO, June 30  /PRNewswire/ -- Aloka Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese
manufacturer and distributor of ultrasound systems announced today that it has
signed a distribution agreement for Japan with SonoSite, Inc. (NASDAQ:SONO),
the worldwide leader in high-performance, hand-carried ultrasound. The
agreement names Aloka as SonoSite's exclusive distributor for TITAN(TM), 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 is based on SonoSite's proprietary ASIC (Application Specific
Integrated Circuit) technology, which integrates millions of transistors onto
one circuit, reducing size while offering excellent image quality and
performance. Weighing only 7.7 pounds (3.5 kg), TITAN is designed for
durability and highly mobile use. The ASIC technology allows for a 12-second
boot speed enabling clinicians to immediately deliver patient care efficiently
and effectively.

Japan is the world's second largest ultrasound market and accounted for an
estimated $400 million in sales in 2003.

About Aloka:

Aloka Co., Ltd. (http://www.aloka.com/), headquartered in Tokyo is a leading
manufacturer of medical devices, which introduced the 1st Diagnostic Ultrasound
system in 1960. With having more than 50 years history in Medical Diagnostic
Ultrasound, it is one of the longest experienced and most innovative companies
in the diagnostic ultrasound market. One of the important innovations,
introduced by ALOKA in 1983, was the 'Color Doppler' technology. Today this
technique became an indispensable diagnostic tool for every ultrasound
examination in any application. 

DATASOURCE: Aloka Co., Ltd.



CONTACT:  Masanobu Tada, Marketing Department of Aloka Co., Ltd.,

[phone], or fax: [phone],  



Web site: http://www.aloka.com/ 

Copyright