DENVER, COLORADO -- STERIS Corporation, a recognized leader in surgical support and integration technologies, and Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., a renowned medical solutions provider with innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, information technology and system integration, have agreed to collaborate to offer optimized vascular, cardiovascular and neurosurgical hybrid surgical suites. The collaboration was announced today at the Society of Vascular Surgeons annual meeting in Denver, Colorado.

Through this collaboration, Siemens will provide advanced information and interventional technologies, while STERIS will supply custom-designed HD 360 degree Suites featuring LED surgical lighting and visualization systems as well as OR integration and equipment management solutions. STERIS will also provide expert room design and project management services using the company's three-dimensional Room Builder software. The hybrid suites that result from STERIS and Siemens joint efforts will enable surgical and diagnostic teams to carry out a vast range of image-guided cardiovascular, vascular, and neurosurgical interventional procedures as well as open surgeries.

"Our two companies share a commitment to providing seamless solutions to our customers as they advance their level of care," commented Bill Riordan, vice president and general manager, STERIS Surgical Solutions. "Working together, we can help facilities meet growing procedural demands and provide the technology that will integrate capabilities for new interventional procedures, minimally invasive surgeries and open procedures, all in the same space. This collaboration will also able to help healthcare providers embrace future surgical innovation with ease."

"Our new collaboration with STERIS complements Siemens' already extensive healthcare technology portfolio, which uniquely helps customers integrate the planning, building, and implementation of technologies within the OR," said Claus Grill, vice president, Cardiac, Interventional/Neuro, and X-ray Systems, Siemens Healthcare. "As the needs of today's surgical suite expand to accommodate both minimally invasive techniques and complex open surgical procedures within the same environment, state-of-the-art image-guidance technologies, such as our Artis zee family, including the first-to-market Artis zeego, are being incorporated into surgical workflow to improve clinical, operational, and financial efficiency."

The Siemens-STERIS collaboration will deliver hybrid operating room solutions that enable healthcare facilities to improve workflow and streamline room planning and installation. Clinical staff will benefit from the resulting tailored and intuitive environment that has the potential to increase the efficiency and optimize the outcomes of these procedures. Most importantly, these new rooms offer hospitals the opportunity to better address room utilization challenges and make the most of their capital investments.

About STERIS Corporation

STERIS Corporation is a leading provider of infection prevention and surgical products and services, focused primarily on critical healthcare, pharmaceutical and research markets. The Company's more than 5,000 dedicated employees around the world work together to supply a broad array of solutions by offering a combination of equipment, consumables and services that enhance Customer productivity and quality and help make the world a safer place. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol STE. For more information, visit www.steris.com.

About Siemens Healthcare

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is a renowned medical solutions provider with core competence and innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as in knowledge engineering, including information technology and system integration. With its laboratory diagnostics acquisitions, Siemens Healthcare is the first integrated healthcare company, bringing together imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy, and healthcare information technology solutions, supplemented by consulting and support services. Siemens Healthcare delivers solutions across the entire continuum of care " from prevention and early detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care. Additionally, Siemens Healthcare is the global market leader in innovative hearing instruments. The company employs around 49,000 people worldwide and operates in 130 countries.