SonaSite was founded in 1998. The company was formerly the handheld ultrasound device division of ATL Ultrasound, spun-off as as an independent, publicly owned company, to further the development and commercialization of high performance, highly miniaturized, hand-carried, all-digital ultrasound imaging. SonoSite began shipping its first product, the SonoSite® 180 ultrasound system for general imaging, in September 1999. The company began trading shares on the Nasdaq in 1998. The company launched its first cardiology product, the SonoHeart® system, in February 2000. With further products being launched in 2001 and 2002. The company reported its first profitable quarter in 2003. Within the United States, SonoSite sells direct through its sales team. Internationally, SonoSite is implementing direct sales in the U.K., Germany, Spain and France and has entered into agreements with distributors, such as Olympus in Japan.