BECTON DICKINSON Introduces the VACUTAINER Brand ECLIPSE Blood Collection Needle

A New Safety-Engineered Product Requires No Change of Technique.
Compatible with All Vacutainer System Products.

BD (NYSE: BDX) today announced the introduction in the United States of the new VACUTAINER(R) Brand ECLIPSE(tm) blood collection needle with a unique, fully-integrated shielding device to help protect health care workers from accidental injury.

"Our goal at BD is to deliver the highest quality patient care, while also protecting the doctors, nurses and technicians who use our products to care for others every day," said Richard Brajer, President, Sample Collection Worldwide at BD. "The ECLIPSE blood collection needle not only delivers advanced protection technology for health care workers, it includes the proven quality and performance of the VACUTAINER Brand PRECISIONGLIDE(tm) needle and is compatible with all the products in the VACUTAINER Brand sample collection system."

The ECLIPSE safety shield is attached directly to a standard blood collection needle and already aligned with the bevel of the needle, so no extra assembly or adjustment is required by the user. The intuitive design of the advanced protection technology means there is no need to change the standard, one-handed venipuncture technique when using the ECLIPSE needle. The procedure remains familiar and the user's other hand is free to apply pressure to the patient's puncture site. The ECLIPSE shield is activated immediately after the needle is removed from the vein.

When the thumb pushes forward on the shield, an audible click indicates that the safety shield is locked in place. The ECLIPSE shield has minimal impact on waste disposal.

In October 1998, BD established the Advanced Protection Technology group to coordinate the development, production and marketing of all the Company's products with safety-engineered features. The VACUTAINER(R) Brand ECLIPSE(tm) blood collection needle is a premium addition to this expanding array of medical devices.

When it introduced the SAFETY-LOK syringe in 1989, BD became the first company to develop and market medical devices specifically designed to protect health care workers from sharps injuries. BD currently has the most complete line of advanced protection products in the industry, providing nearly 200 products for use in skin injection, sample collection, infusion therapy, surgery, and disposal. These include: SAFETY-LOK syringes and SAFETYGLIDE injection needles (skin injection); QUIKHEEL safety lancet, SAFETY FLOW lancet, SAFETYGARD needle holder, SAFETYGLIDE blood collection assembly, SAFETY-LOK blood collection set, and SAFETY-LOK needle holders (sample collection); INTERLINK needleless IV system, TWINPAK dual cannula device, POSIFLOW IV maintenance system, INSYTE AUTOGUARD shielded IV catheter, SAF-T-E-Z SET winged infusion set, SAF-T-INTIMA IV catheter system (infusion therapy); BARD-PARKER SAFETYLOCK surgical blade system, and the SAFETYLOCK scalpel (surgery); and the SAFETY CRADLE and GUARDIAN sharps collectors (disposal).

BD manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, and diagnostic systems for use by health care professionals, medical research institutions, and the general public.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements (as defined under Federal securities laws) regarding the company's performance, including future revenues, products and income, which are based upon current expectations of the company and involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from anticipated results described in any forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, competitive factors, changes in regional, national or foreign currency exchange rates, delays in product introductions, year 2000 issues, and changes in health care or other government regulations, as well as other factors discussed herein and in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT: BD
Camilla Jenkins, 201/847-5369

or
Robinson Lerer Montgomery

Elizabeth Mather, 212/484-7701

KEYWORD: NEW JERSEY
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICINE PRODUCT Today's News On The Net -
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