Exhibit 99.7
Form 8-K
Viking Systems, Inc.
File No. 000-49636
VIKING CONTACT: Lonna J. Williams
SYSTEMS Viking Systems, Inc.
858-456-6608
LWilliams@vikingsystems.com
Robert Blodgett
Townsend Inc. for Viking
858-457-4888
rblodgett@townsendinc.com
Viking Systems, Inc. Appoints Dr. Robin Blackstone to Board of Directors
Company Continues to Build Strong Board to Support Focus on
Surgical Suite Technologies
November 2, 2004 -- La Jolla, CA -- Viking Systems Inc. (VKSY.OB), positioning
to be a market leader in integrated solutions for the digital surgical
environment, today announced the appointment of Dr. Robin Blackstone, Medical
Director of the Scottsdale Healthcare Bariatric Program and lead Surgeon and
Director of Scottsdale Bariatric Center to its Board of Directors. Dr.
Blackstone brings to Viking a substantial knowledge of both advanced
laparoscopic surgical procedures and the state of the art technology used in the
surgical suite. Dr. Blackstone has extensive experience in laparoscopic
bariatric surgery and laparoscopic oncology procedures; both recent examples of
the advancement of surgical techniques enabled by minimally invasive
technologies.
Under Dr. Blackstone's direction, Scottsdale Bariatric Center is recognized as a
Center of Excellence by insurance companies and large employer groups. From 1997
to 2000, she was the Chairman of the Scottsdale Healthcare Cancer Committee,
leading the team to achieve designation as a cancer center by the American
College of Surgeons and acting as Cancer Liaison to the American College of
Surgeons.
"As an active member of our board of directors, we are looking forward to Dr.
Blackstone's progressive view of surgery and the surgical environment to help
strengthen and enhance our plans for growth in the area of minimally invasive
surgery," stated Thomas B. Marsh, President and Chairman of Viking Systems, Inc.
"As both a highly regarded surgeon and program director, she is an ideal
candidate to help us further develop our business and assist us as we consider
additional business acquisitions."
Dr. Blackstone's Board appointment follows that of Dr. Nathan Harrison's and
Ronald Walrod, CEO of JMAR Technology. Viking's key products are developed and
managed by their Vision Systems Group, and are marketed for use during minimally
invasive surgery (MIS) in endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures.
Dr. Blackstone received her received her Doctor of Medicine in 1988 from the
University of Texas in San Antonio, and completed her General Surgery residency
at the University of Colorado in 1993. Dr. Blackstone served as the Director of
Women's Health Services at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, California,
where she developed a Women's Center dedicated to providing care to
underprivileged patients in the Salinas Valley. She was also instrumental in
obtaining grants for a wide variety of health care programs, focusing on
patients without financial means. In 1996, Dr. Blackstone established her
private practice in Scottsdale - specializing in Advanced Laparoscopic General
Surgery and Surgical Oncology. In 1999, she began to study Weight Loss Surgery
training with Dr. Kelvin Higa and Dr. Alan Wittgrove. In partnership with
Scottsdale Healthcare, Dr. Blackstone built a multidisciplinary comprehensive
team which began offering weight loss surgery to patients in November of 2001.
In less than three years the team has performed more than 900 cases of
Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass and LAP-BAND. Dr. Blackstone is a member of the
ASBS, SSAT and SAGES. She serves on the Surgical Review Corporation Center
Review Committee and is consultant and proctor for Ethicon Endosurgery.
About Viking Systems, Inc.
Viking Systems, Inc. is positioning to be a market leader in bringing integrated
solutions to the digital surgical environment. The company is developing a
portfolio of targeted medical technologies and services that serve the current
and emerging needs of the digital healthcare network. The company's mission is
to deliver integrated information, visualization, and control solutions to the
surgical team, enhancing their capability and performance in minimally invasive
surgery (MIS) and complex surgical procedures.
Viking Systems is further building its solutions portfolio through product
development, targeted acquisitions. The company established the Vision Systems
Group in Westborough, MA with it's proprietary 3-dimensional surgical
visualization business and digital platform for surgical information delivery
(Infomatix(TM)). Other acquisition targets currently include optics, digital
imaging, sensors, surgical robotics, and image management products or companies.
The company is headquartered in La Jolla, CA. For more information, please visit
the company's website at http://www.vikingsystems.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This current report contains certain forward-looking statements and any
statements contained in this current report that are not statements of
historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting
the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate,"
"estimate" or "continue" or comparable terminology are intended to identify
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forward-looking statements. These statements by their nature involve substantial
risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a
variety of factors, many of which are not within Viking's control. These factors
include, but are not limited to, economic conditions generally and in the
markets in which Viking may participate, competition within Viking's markets and
failure by Viking to successfully develop business relationships.
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