Varian Medical Systems’ PaxScan 4030 Portable Digital Radiography System Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance | Varian

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Varian Medical Systems’ PaxScan 4030 Portable Digital Radiography System Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance

PALO ALTO, CA, — February 24, 2003 — Varian Medical Systems,Inc. (NYSE: VAR) today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its new PaxScan™ 4030 Medical
Digital Imaging System, a small, light-weight, portable digital radiography
system that combines a computer workstation with imaging software and an
amorphous silicon flat-panel image detector. Varian has configured the new
system for use in general medical diagnosis procedures as well as military
field hospitals. It will enable doctors to obtain X-ray images of wounded
soldiers or civilians more rapidly than would be possible with conventional
film-based or computed radiography (CR) systems, and thus will speed up
diagnosis and treatment.

“In emergency and trauma situations where rapid response is critical,
this system can make a life-saving difference,” said Chuck Blouir,
marketing manager. “An X-ray image can be generated and displayed on a
monitor within approximately seven seconds.”

In addition to saving critical seconds, the PaxScan 4030 Medical Digital
Imaging System will enable field hospitals that move frequently to operate
more efficiently. It eliminates the need for hardware and chemicals associated
with bulkier, slower, more cumbersome systems that use film or CR. The PaxScan
system is less than half the size and approximately half the weight of
conventional film-based or CR systems. It can be unpacked and set up by one
person in 10 minutes, which is significantly less time than is required with
conventional film-based systems still in use.

The PaxScan unit is a solid-state, sealed, digital X-ray system developed to
work in harsh environments. “It was designed to be more reliable than
either film or CR systems, which can be vulnerable to heat and contamination
in dusty environments,” said Blouir.

The system captures X-ray images by using an image detector that is placed
behind the patient. X-rays that pass through the patient are captured by the
detector and converted into electronic images, which are displayed on the
workstation monitor for diagnosis. The digitized images can be stored on a CD,
sent via high-speed network or Internet connection to experts in remote
locations, and even stored on digital dog tags that are currently being
evaluated by the U.S. Army for storing soldiers’ medical records.
PaxScan images can be saved and transmitted using standard DICOM-compliant
communication protocols.

Further information about digital X-ray imaging is available in the Varian Medical Systems 2003 Annual
Report. High-resolution images are also available. Please contact Meryl
Ginsberg at 650-424-6444.