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                                                                      Exhibit 99

                                  PRESS RELEASE

                          FURON, MEDEX SIGN MERGER PACT
               IN TRANSACTION VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $160 MILLION

         Laguna Niquel, CA--November 13, 1996--Furon Company (NYSE:FCY),
headquartered in Laguna Niquel, California, and Medex, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDEX) of
Hilliard, Ohio, today announced they have signed a definitive merger agreement
under which FCY, Inc., Furon's subsidiary, will commence a tender offer to
acquire all of Medex's outstanding shares for $23.50 per share. The total
transaction is valued at $160 million (including outstanding stock options). The
purchase price represents a premium of about 59% over the average trading price
of the last 30 days. Following consummation of the tender offer, Furon intends
to acquire any remaining Medex shares in a cash merger at the same price as paid
in the tender offer.

         The merger agreement and tender offer have been unanimously approved by
the board of directors of each company.

         Consummation of the tender offer is subject to customary terms and
conditions, including acceptance by the holders of at least 60% of the shares of
Medex along with certain regulatory approvals and the expiration of the waiting
period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. The tender offer will be made pursuant
to definitive documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. is Dealer Manager for the offer, and MacKenzie
Partners, Inc. is the Information Agent.

         In the event of a termination of the merger agreement due to a superior
takeover proposal or certain other circumstances, Medex would be obligated to
pay Furon a fee of approximately $8 million. Medex has granted Furon an option
to acquire 10 percent of the Medex common stock exercisable at the tender offer
price, upon termination of the merger agreement due to a superior takeover
proposal or certain other circumstances. Management shareholders
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and directors of Medex have also granted Furon an option and have agreed to sell
their shares to Medex upon completion of the tender offer.

         Medex, founded in 1959, had sales of $99.3 million for its fiscal year
ended June 30, 1996. The company manufacturers polymer-based critical care
products and infusion systems for medical and surgical applications. Medex
products are sold in more than 50 countries to hospitals and alternate care
facilities and to original equipment manufacturers serving the health care
industry worldwide.

         Furon, a leading international manufacturer of engineered polymer
components serving a number of industries, including health care, had sales of
$345 million for its fiscal year ended February 3, 1996. The company was founded
in 1955.

         J. Michael Hagan, Furon's chairman and chief executive officer, said
"The acquisition of Medex represents an important step in the implementation of
Furon's growth strategy by leveraging our materials technology and manufacturing
know how in an industry sector that is non cyclical and provides a balance to
our overall business. In addition to its strong management, sales, marketing and
manufacturing team, Medex has excellent channels to market directly to health
care providers. From this base, we can accelerate growth with new products,
product line extensions, and market penetration.

         Hagan added that Furon has secured financing commitments to complete
the transaction.

         Bradley P. Gould, president and chief executive officer of Medex, said
"Joining forces with Furon provides added resources that will permit us to
develop new medical products and expand our market penetration on a global
basis. The transaction signifies a quantum stride in our quest to attain greater
market recognition
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for our products in the neonatal and pediatric intensive care and
the adult critical care and anesthesia markets."

         Furon currently manufacturers a line of shunts, catheters, tubing and
other medical products primarily for original equipment manufacturers. Its
medical products comprised approximately three percent of the company's total
sales during fiscal 1996.

         Medex designs, manufacturers and distributes critical care products and
infusion systems for a wide range of medical and surgical applications. Critical
care products are utilized in intravenous therapies such as fluid and drug
administration, as well as pressure monitoring and cardiac catheterization.
Infusion systems include a range of infusion pumps designed to deliver
prescribed doses of drugs and fluids to patients. With corporate headquarters in
Columbus, the company has domestic operations in Ohio and Georgia. Medex also
operates subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Medex stock is
traded over-the-counter on the Nasdaq National Market under the MDEX symbol.

         Furon is the world's leader in engineered polymer components for the
industrial marketplace. The company serves five key markets: electronics,
processing industries, capital goods, transportation, and health care.

         Certain statements contained in this release are forward looking and
may involve risk and uncertainties including, but not limited to, product demand
and market acceptance risks, the effect of economic conditions, the impact of
competitive products and pricing, product development, and other risks disclosed
in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.