SAN DIEGO, Feb. 5, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Viking Systems, Inc. (OTCBB:VKSY), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance laparoscopic vision systems for use in minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures, has established St. Antonius Hospital in The Netherlands as a partner and 3-D Center of Excellence.
Doctors at St. Antonius Hospital will begin using the Viking 3Di Digital Vision System, acquired through Viking's local Distributor partner Arsis Medical. As a Viking 3-D Center of Excellence, St. Antonius Hospital will become a reference and training center for 3-D minimally invasive surgery in Europe.
"Viking Systems shares the mission of St. Antonius to respond to patients and communities as leaders in quality, cost-efficient healthcare," stated Stephen Heniges, Vice President, Corporate Accounts and International Business at Viking Systems. "St. Antonius offers patients state-of-the-art facilities operated by highly skilled staff. We are pleased they have joined Viking as a strategic partner to provide 3-D MIS education to European surgeons through their numerous training programs."
"MIS is growing rapidly in The Netherlands and throughout Europe," said Christiaan F.P. van Swol Ph.D, coordinator for the program on behalf of St. Antonius Hospital. "Viking System's 3-D System is innovative, economical and allows us to better serve our patients. Our surgeons are delighted by the increased precision and information gained by having their natural 3-D Vision restored during MIS procedures."
St. Antonius Hospital intends to use Viking's 3Di Digital Vision System as an educational tool for European surgeons by broadcasting live from the operating room to their auditorium via fiber optic cable. This will allow numerous surgeons to be trained simultaneously on the latest laparoscopic techniques with the benefit of 3-D vision on a specialized projection screen and significantly enhance the learning process.
"We are honored to partner with St. Antonius Hospital and be part of this exciting educational program," stated Donald E. Tucker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viking Systems. "As Viking continues to expand both internationally and in the U.S., we remain focused on delivering the benefit of 3-D vision through innovative and cost-effective solutions."
Viking Systems will continue to pursue strategic partners in key markets globally and expects to further penetrate Europe in the near future.
About Viking Systems, Inc.
Viking Systems, Inc. is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of FDA-cleared, CE-marked, high-performance surgical vision systems. The Company's primary branded product is the Viking 3Di Digital Vision System, an advanced three-dimensional (3-D) vision system used by surgeons for complex minimally invasive surgery, with an initial focus on applications in urology, gynecology, bariatrics and general surgery. Viking also manufactures advanced two-dimensional (2-D) Viking 2Di Digital Vision Systems for targeted configurations and channels, as well as 2-D cameras and components, sold through strategic partner and OEM programs.
About St. Antonius Hospital
St. Antonius Hospital provides comprehensive services in most fields of medicine and surgery, including: Cardiology, Pulmonology, Cardiac and Thoracic surgery, Advanced general surgery with special expertise in gastro-intestinal and arterial surgery, Intervention Radiology, Oncology, rheumatology, gastro-enterology, nephrology, Orthopedics (with a special expertise in hip and knee repairs), Gynecology and obstetrics, Maxillo-facial surgery, Ophthalmology, Urology, Plastic surgery, ENT Pediatrics, Dermatology, Rehabilitation medicine.
St. Antonius Hospital collaborates closely with the Mesos Medical Centre in Utrecht, a member of the Antonius Mesos Group. The Group, with 1,050 beds and approximately 4,500 physicians and staff, treats 35,000 inpatient cases a year.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release includes forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, our ability to execute on our business plan during 2007 and beyond, our strategic planning and business development plans, our future financing needs, impacts on our financial results, and our future growth. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, our ability to market our products, the success of business development efforts, competition in the industry, and our ability to manage growth, as well as the risks and other factors set forth in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.