FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



SUBJECT:       Ballard  Medical  Products  Purchases  Over Ninety Percent of the
               Outstanding  Capital  Stock of  Cardiotronics  Systems,  Inc. and
               Commences Short-Form Merger.


CONTACT:       Tim J. Way (619) 431-9446



          CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, DECEMBER 10, 1996 -- Cardiotronics Systems, Inc.
          (NASDAQ--CDIO)  announced that earlier today Ballard Medical Products,
          Inc., a Utah corporation  whose common stock is publicly traded on the
          New York Stock Exchange  ("Ballard"),  acting through its wholly-owned
          subsidiary, Ballard Acquisition Corporation,  purchased 90.177% of the
          outstanding shares of capital stock of Cardiotronics  Systems, Inc. in
          a private stock  purchase  transaction.  Ballard  purchased all of the
          preferred and common stock holdings of certain  venture  investors and
          other  individuals  for $3.75 per share of common stock or  equivalent
          thereof  and paid off  approximately  $2,700,000  in debt  owed by the
          Company to the  venture  investors.  As part of the  transaction,  the
          Company's  outstanding line of credit of approximately  $5,500,000 has
          been paid and certain  officers  and  employees  of the  Company  have
          received  retention  bonus  payments and option  payoffs.  Immediately
          following the completion of the stock purchase  transactions,  Ballard
          will commence the short-form  merger of its  wholly-owned  subsidiary,
          Ballard Acquisition  Corporation,  with and into the Company such that
          the Company  will become the  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Ballard and
          each of the remaining shareholders of the Company is either to receive
          $3.75 per  outstanding  share of Company  common  stock or  equivalent
          thereof or to exercise his or her dissenter's rights.

          Additional  information  may be  obtained  from the  Company  at (619)
          431-9446.