PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: January 12, 2004

Media and Sales/Marketing Contact

David Tietjen, Merit Sensor Systems, Inc. (408) 987-0567 [email protected]

MERIT SENSOR SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES MAJOR GROWTH INITIATIVES

SANTA CLARA, CA – Merit Sensor Systems, Inc., a leader in piezoresistive, micro-machined pressure sensor solutions, today announced significant expansions in both facilities and personnel.

“Merit Sensor Systems™ is pleased to announce the groundbreaking of a new 48,000 square-foot facility at the world headquarters of its parent company, Merit Medical Systems, Inc., in South Jordan, Utah,” said Diana Upp, President of Merit Sensor Systems. “This ‘state-of-the-art’ facility as well as the addition of two key personnel in sales/marketing and engineering will enable us to achieve our aggressive growth plans and objectives.”

Presently located in Santa Clara, California, Merit Sensor Systems will relocate personnel and equipment to the South Jordan campus in approximately a year. This move will enable Merit Sensor to greatly leverage synergies and efficiencies with its parent company.

In addition to facilities investments, Merit Sensor Systems has appointed David Tietjen to Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Scott Sidwell to R&D/Manufacturing Engineering Site Manager. “We are delighted to have this talent join the Merit team,” said Upp.

Prior to joining Merit Sensor Systems, Mr. Tietjen served in a variety of marketing, business development, product management and financial capacities in the high-tech and automotive sectors for companies such as Iomega Corporation, Ford Motor Company, TRW® and Marketstar Corporation. “This is an incredible opportunity to align myself with a company that has such strong growth prospects and a dynamic management team,” said Tietjen.

Prior to joining Merit Sensor Systems, Mr. Sidwell served in a variety of key engineering capacities for companies such as ON Semiconductor® and Motorola, Inc. “This opportunity will enable me to fully leverage the experiences gained at other technical companies,” said Sidwell.

About Merit Sensor Systems, Inc.

Merit Sensor Systems partners with customers to design, fabricate, assemble and package mission-critical, cost-effective pressure sensor solutions for automotive, medical, industrial, aviation, defense and consumer applications. Merit Sensor Systems is currently located in Santa Clara, California, and is a division of Merit Medical Systems (www.merit-sensor.com; 408.987.0560).

About Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

Merit® Medical Systems is located in South Jordan, Utah, and manufactures and markets proprietary disposable medical products used in interventional and diagnostic procedures, particularly cardiology and radiology (www.merit.com; 801.253-1600; NASDAQ: MMSI).