Air Liquide : Healthcare: An Innovation in Oxygen Therapy Now Available Throughout the World

Regulatory News:

To facilitate the work of hospital staff, in particular in emergency rooms, and ambulance attendants, Air Liquide (Paris:AI) launched in 2013 the first medical oxygen cylinder with a digital interface. Thanks to its electronic information system, this new cylinder - called "TAKEO™" - allows the user to see the remaining consumption time until the oxygen runs out. This new generation of cylinders that improve user safety is now available to healthcare professionals in many countries.

Designed by Air Liquide Healthcare, TAKEO™ represents a new technological solution in the field of medical oxygen. Thanks to its "intelligent" digital display, TAKEO™ is the first medical oxygen cylinder that allows medical staff to know how long they have until the oxygen runs out, emitting a warning sound when the oxygen level is low. These new functions therefore improve patient safety and optimise oxygen consumption. This aluminium cylinder is also lighter and easier to handle for the medical staff thanks to its new ergonomic design.

Air Liquide Healthcare is now offering this new solution in many countries around the world. It will continue to be rolled out throughout 2014, with around 100,000 more cylinders being made available over the next two years. TAKEO™ is already being used in 15 countries, including Germany, Australia, Canada, Chile, Spain, and France.

Pascal Vinet, Vice President, Healthcare Global Operations and member of the Air Liquide Group Executive Committee, commented: "Thanks to this unique innovative product, Air Liquide Healthcare is providing solutions that meet the needs of healthcare professionals while ensuring patient safety. As a major player in the medical gas industry, Air Liquide Healthcare combines the production of medical gases with the development of innovative equipment and distribution systems. Increasing patient safety is at the heart of the development strategy of all our new products."

Air Liquide Healthcare
Air Liquide Healthcare supplies medical gases, home healthcare services, hygiene products, medical equipment and specialty ingredients.
In 2013, it served over 7,500 hospitals and more than 1 million patients at home throughout the world.
The Group’s Healthcare business reached € 2,689 million in revenues in 2013, with the support of its 12,000 employees.

The Medical Gases business
Air Liquide, Europe's leading medical oxygen provider, supplies hospitals and clinics all over the world. Nowadays, medical gases are used in emergency rooms, operating rooms and in intensive care, and in hospital departments like pneumology and cardiology. Medical Gases represented 30% of Air Liquide's revenue in Healthcare in 2013.

To download a photo of Takeo, please click here

World leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with more than 50,000 employees and serves more than 2 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen have been at the core of the company’s activities since its creation in 1902. Air Liquide’s ambition is to be the leader in its industry, delivering long-term performance and acting responsibly.

Air Liquide ideas create value over the long term. At the core of the company’s development are the commitment and constant inventiveness of its people.

Air Liquide anticipates the challenges of its markets, invests locally and globally, and delivers high-quality solutions to its customers and patients, and the scientific community.

The company relies on competitiveness in its operations, targeted investments in growing markets and innovation to deliver profitable growth over the long-term.

Air Liquide’s revenues amounted to € 15.2 billion in 2013, and its solutions that protect life and the environment represented around 40% of sales. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (compartment A) and is a member of the CAC 40 and Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 indexes.

www.airliquide.com
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