PRINCETON, N.J., June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Impliant, Inc., a developer of novel spine arthroplasty alternatives to fusion surgery, today announced that the European Patent Office has confirmed the validity of one of its key patents following an Opposition by Archus Orthopedics, Inc. (Redmond, WA) that concluded with oral proceedings on May 12, 2009 in Munich, Germany. This patent (EP1578314 B1), originally issued to Impliant on May 30, 2007, involves among others the company's flagship product, the TOPS System, a Total Posterior Arthroplasty device designed to treat lumbar spinal stenosis with or without facet arthrosis and spondylolisthesis. Archus challenged the patent on the grounds of being too broad, but the European Patent Office rejected the opposition and upheld every claim of the patent. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080527/NETU060LOGO ) Impliant also announced that it has been granted two additional patents in the United States. The first (US 7537613), granted on May 26, 2009, is another patent that directs to the company's TOPS System. The second (US 20050197705), already a patent in Europe (EP1646338), entails a unique translateral spinal disc replacement. "We are very pleased by the outcome of these procedings," said Todd Potokar, President and CEO of Impliant. "The successful defense of one of our main patents in Europe coupled with the addition of two new patents in the U.S. further strengthens our robust IP portfolio." Impliant is applying cutting-edge materials and crossbar biomechanical techniques to develop a new class of spine arthroplasty devices that target over 40% of the patients worldwide who undergo fusion surgery and could benefit from a Total Posterior Arthroplasty solution. About the TOPS(TM) System Impliant's TOPS(TM) System, a mobile posterior device, is designed to stabilize but not fuse the L3-4 or L4-5 vertebral level to alleviate pain stemming from spinal stenosis with or without degenerative facet arthrosis, and spondylolisthesis. Following a laminectomy and medial facetectomy, the device is affixed to the spine via four pedicle screws using a standard posterior surgical approach. Impliant believes that the TOPS(TM) System could benefit over 500,000 patients worldwide undergoing spinal fusion surgery each year. The TOPS(TM) System is not approved for sale in the United States. About Impliant, Inc. Impliant, Inc. is a privately held company engaged in the development of novel spine arthroplasty solutions for some of the most prevalent pathologies of the spine. The company is currently developing the TOPS(TM) System, which has the longest clinical history in the Total Posterior Arthroplasty market segment, dating to January 2005. Impliant is also developing several next-generation and multi-level technologies to further increase its addressable market. Impliant is headquartered in Princeton, NJ with research facilities located in Ramat Poleg, Israel. Shareholders include Elron Electronic Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq & TASE: ELRN). For more information about Impliant, please visit http://www.impliant.com/. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080527/NETU060LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Impliant, Inc. CONTACT: Todd Potokar, President & CEO, +1-609-779-6800, , or Ronnie Levy, COO & General Manager, +1-609-779-6800, , both of Impliant, Inc. Web Site: http://www.impliant.com/

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