Puritan Bennett Receives 2004 Frost & Sullivan Award; HELiOS Personal Oxygen System Receives Oxygen Therapy Product Quality Leadership Award

Business Wire, Jan 31, 2005

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Frost & Sullivan awarded Puritan Bennett the 2004 Oxygen Therapy Product Quality Leadership Award for its advanced quality and innovative products in the oxygen therapy market, specifically the revolutionary HELiOS(R) Personal Oxygen System. Puritan Bennett is part of Mallinckrodt, a Tyco Healthcare Company.

The HELiOS system, a pioneering breakthrough for people requiring supplemental oxygen, is a highly user-friendly, portable oxygen device that is extremely small, lightweight and long-lasting.

The HELiOS Plus(TM) Portable Oxygen Unit weighs just 3.6 pounds when filled and lasts up to 10 hours at a time on a setting of 2 liters per minute (LPM). Unlike other portable oxygen systems that must be carried or pulled, the HELiOS portable unit can be "worn" on a belt or in a shoulder bag, giving users a more independent and mobile lifestyle.

The company has established quality standards above and beyond those required by regulatory bodies. "Puritan Bennett has introduced a virtually complaint-free system through this product and has done so by addressing quality at every step," adds Frost & Sullivan research analyst Alpesh Gandhi. "By initiating a Six Sigma quality program, Puritan Bennett has fulfilled the needs of home care providers throughout the nation by reducing frequent visits to patients' homes."

Puritan Bennett has demonstrated superior quality control compared with other competitive manufacturers. Quality control is an essential element of satisfying customers, triggering repeat buying behavior, and assuring long-term market survival. Puritan Bennett's growing end-user base and quality customer service have paved the way for the launch of the next generation in HELiOS portables -- the HELiOS Marathon(TM) Portable Oxygen Unit.

About Puritan Bennett

Puritan Bennett is one of the world's premier producers of respiratory-related medical products serving patients from the hospital to the home. A part of Tyco Healthcare/Mallinckrodt, Puritan Bennett is a leader in ventilators, oxygen and sleep therapy equipment, sleep diagnostics, spirometry and other respiratory care products. The company's technological expertise and in-depth understanding of real-world clinical issues have resulted in numerous improvements in the field of respiratory care. Puritan Bennett offers an exceptional level of customer support that includes technical service and clinical education resources. For more information, visit www.puritanbennett.com.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company founded in 1961, partners with clients to create value through innovative growth strategies. The foundation of this partnership approach is our Growth Partnership Services platform, whereby we provide industry research, marketing strategies, consulting and training to our clients to help grow their business. A key benefit that Frost & Sullivan brings to its clients is a global perspective on a broad range of industries, markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. With a client list that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, as well as the investment community, Frost & Sullivan has evolved into one of the premier growth consulting companies in the world. For more information, visit www.frost.com.