In 1969, Advanced Technology Laboratories was founded in 1969 and became one of the leading diagnostic ultrasound imaging companies in the world. ATL entered the medical ultrasound industry in 1974, the year a transfer of technology from the University of Washington enabled the company to begin manufacturing products for hospitals and physicians.

In Dec. 1979, ATL was purchased by Squibb for $60 million, and became part of a Squibb subsidiary, Westmark International. In 1992, Westmark was dissolved, and its two units, ATL and SpaceLabs Medical, were spun off to form separate, publicly traded companies. In 1995, ATL became part of Philips.