Laserscope Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent
January 26 2006 - 4:05PM
PR Newswire (US)
Laser Vaporization Patent Strengthens the Company's Photoselective
Vaporization Patent Portfolio SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 26
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Laserscope (NASDAQ:LSCP), a pioneer in
the development and commercialization of minimally-invasive medical
devices, including medical lasers and advanced fiber-optic delivery
devices, said today that it has been issued an important U.S.
patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
relating to the use of its Photoselective Vaporization (PV) method
and technology for therapeutic treatment of benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH) and other tissues in the human body. U.S. Patent
number 6986764, "Method and System for Photoselective Vaporization
of the Prostate and Other Tissue," covers the unique and innovative
methods and equipment of Laserscope that enable doctors to quickly
vaporize targeted tissue while causing only minimal coagulation and
heat damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The treatment method
uses the GreenLight PV(R) laser system, Laserscope's leading
surgical product, to perform the Photoselective Vaporization of the
Prostate ("PVP") procedure. The capabilities of this treatment
method are fundamental to achieving the excellent clinical outcomes
of procedures such as PVP. The newly issued patent covers a wide
spectrum of applications where tissue vaporization without
significant coagulation is important. "We are pleased to have been
issued this patent, which reinforces the intellectual property
protection afforded to these core Laserscope methods and
technologies used in our current GreenLight(TM) products," said
Eric Reuter, Laserscope President and CEO. "Clinical studies
continue to validate that concentrated, powerful laser light at the
532 nanometer wavelength, used by our GreenLight(R) PV laser
system, has ideal characteristics to achieve both fast vaporization
and hemostatic coagulation of tissue which results in superior
clinical outcomes for the patient in many applications." About
Photoselective Vaporization and Photoselective Vaporization of the
Prostate Photoselective vaporization works by applying very high
laser irradiances (light energy per unit of surface area) of a
specific wavelength to tissue and tissue components (chromophores)
that highly absorb light of that wavelength. This quickly vaporizes
and removes the affected tissue while leaving behind a very thin
zone of coagulated tissue. This remaining zone of coagulated tissue
is usually sufficient to substantially reduce or even prevent
post-operative bleeding while being thin enough to reduce the side
effects and damage to surrounding tissue caused by significant
coagulation. PVP is rapidly becoming known as the new standard of
care and could become a therapy of choice for the millions of men
worldwide who are suffering from the symptoms of benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate disease. In a PVP procedure,
a urologist working under endoscopic visualization, directs a very
thin sterile single-use fiber optic device into the patient's
urethra to vaporize and remove the obstructive prostate tissue so
that the urine can pass unobstructed out of the body. PVP is
typically a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure providing a
clean, open urinary channel through the prostate, immediate urinary
flow relief, few complications, substantial symptom relief, and
minimal side-effects for the patient. We know of no other
procedures used to treat BPH which result in the long-term clinical
efficacy, low complication rates, and minimal side effects that PVP
provides. Compared to traditional surgical methods, the surgery is
easy for doctors to learn and perform. It is estimated that over
100,000 PVP procedures have been performed worldwide since the
commercialization of PVP with the GreenLight(R) PV laser system in
2002. About Laserscope Laserscope designs, manufactures, sells and
services on a worldwide basis an advanced line of
minimally-invasive medical products including medical laser systems
and related energy delivery devices for the office, outpatient
surgical center, and hospital markets. More information about
Laserscope can be found on the Company's web site at
http://www.laserscope.com/. Safe Harbor Statement This press
release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject
to the safe harbor created by this section. These forward-looking
statements include statements about the strength of Laserscope's
patent portfolio and intellectual property protection available for
current and future products, expected continued momentum of
Laserscope's business and growth, the ease with which physicians
may learn and perform the PVP procedure using the GreenLight(TM)
products, worldwide adoption of the PVP procedure using the
GreenLight(TM) laser system, and our ability to compete with
similar product offerings. These statements are subject to a number
of risks and uncertainties, including among others: risks that
patents and licenses that we hold may be challenged, invalidated or
circumvented, that we may become the subject of intellectual
property litigation, or that we may otherwise be unable to protect
our intellectual property position; uncertainties regarding
introduction of new technologies competitive to Laserscope's
products, the degree to which the Laserscope's current and new
products are accepted by customers, which could affect the level of
demand for our products; uncertainties regarding our ability to
compete with companies that have significantly greater financial,
technical, research and development, manufacturing and marketing
resources than we have; uncertainties that new products will
receive regulatory approval in applicable jurisdictions; and
uncertainties regarding our ability to compete with companies that
have significantly greater financial, technical, research and
development, manufacturing and marketing resources than we have.
Actual results may differ materially due to these and other
factors. The matters discussed in this press release also involve
risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Laserscope's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular,
see the Risk Factors described in Laserscope's most recent
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Copies of Laserscope's public disclosure filings with the SEC,
including the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the most
recent forms 10-Q are available upon request from its Investor
Relations Department at its website at http://www.laserscope.com/
and at the SEC's website: http://www.sec.gov/. Laserscope assumes
no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained
in this press release. At Laserscope: At Financial Relations Board:
Eric Reuter, President & CEO Tricia Ross, Investor/Analyst
Contact Derek Bertocci, CFO (617) 520-7064 (408) 943-0636 Laurie
Berman, General Inquiries (310) 854-8315 DATASOURCE: Laserscope
CONTACT: Eric Reuter, President & CEO, or Derek Bertocci, CFO,
both of Laserscope, +1-408-943-0636; or Investors, Tricia Ross,
+1-617-520-7064, or General Inquiries, Laurie Berman,
+1-310-854-8315, both of Financial Relations Board, for Laserscope
Web site: http://www.laserscope.com/
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