SonoSite acquires Utah biotech

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, May 27, 2004

BOTHELL – SonoSite Inc. is buying a small Utah company that makes software for cardiovascular screening, potentially expanding the usefulness of SonoSite’s ultrasound devices for detecting heart disease.

The Utah company, SonoMetric Health Inc. of Salt Lake City, has developed software that automatically measures carotid artery walls. Thickened walls are an early sign of clogged arteries and heart disease.

“This acquisition is the initial step in implementing our preventive cardiology strategy and expanding our focus on providing ultrasound tools for detecting and managing cardiovascular disease,” said Kevin Goodwin, SonoSite’s chief executive officer.

Financial terms of the deal sale were not disclosed. SonoMetric has only a few employees and was just beginning to market its software, said Mike Schuh, SonoSite’s chief financial officer.

For that reason, the transaction shouldn’t have much effect on SonoSite’s financial results, he said. Some of SonoMetric’s employees will be hired on a contract basis.

SonoSite has targeted its hand-carried ultrasound devices specifically toward the cardiovascular market for several years. Some doctors have begun using ultrasound to quickly and noninvasively assess heart and artery problems.

Schuh said SonoSite plans to integrate the software program, called SonoCalc, into its ultrasound equipment in 2005. SonoCalc, which was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year, uses proprietary mathematical formulas to detect and measure the edges of artery walls.

SonoMetric’s purchase is the second small acquisition SonoSite has made since it was spun off from ATL Ultrasound in 1998.

After the transaction was announced, SonoSite’s stock fell 59 cents to close in Thursday’s trading at $21.47 a share.

Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.