Lithium Chloride Mutual Recognition Approvals in Four Further European Territories

LiDCO Group plc, (AIM: LID) the UK-based cardiovascular monitoring company, is pleased to announce today that four further European country approvals of Lithium Chloride for use with the LiDCOplus System have been granted in the territories of Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Bulgaria. Lithium Chloride is used in conjunction with the LiDCOplus System to provide an absolute measure of a patients' cardiac output.

These latest registrations now provide LiDCO with full marketing approval in twelve European countries including UK, Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Belgium and Holland.

Commenting on the four European approvals, Dr Terry O'Brien, LiDCO's CEO, said: "We have now successfully registered the lithium chloride injection as a pharmaceutical (in-vivo diagnostic) in the majority of the major European markets. Europe is the most developed territory for the adoption of advanced minimally invasive cardiovascular monitoring. Following on from our recent product launches in Germany, Austria and Italy, we expect the growth in European sales to be further accelerated by these additional territories in 2005."

Notes for Editors:

LiDCO is a leading supplier of minimally invasive, computer-based hemodynamic monitoring equipment and disposables used primarily for the management of critical care and cardiovascular risk hospital patients.

The Company’s current products are:

• the LiDCOplus and PulseCO monitors, computer-based platforms for displaying a range of real-time continuous hemodynamic parameters including cardiac output, oxygen delivery and fluid volume following calibration with:



• the LiDCO disposable for accurately determining cardiac output in a minimally-invasive manner

Lithium dilution calibrated waveform analysis

The LiDCOplus monitor uses arterial pressure waveform analysis, in conjunction with Lithium dilution cardiac output calibration. Lithium does not occur naturally in the body. Making this a patentable reference indicator. The injected lithium is used in trace amounts as an in vivo diagnostic, not a therapeutic drug, to calibrate the PulseCO continuous beat to beat software. The measurement of the marker lithium ion concentration in blood is made through a proprietary lithium selected ion sensor attached to existing radial or other peripheral arterial lines. The lithium is injected into the venous circulation via a central venous or peripheral venous line. The lithium cardiac output determination is then used to calibrate cardiac output continuously from the arterial pulse power profile of the pressure waveform.