Laserscope Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent

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             [phone]
  [phone]                  Laurie Berman, General Inquiries
                                  [phone]


DATASOURCE: Laserscope



CONTACT:  Eric Reuter, President & CEO, or Derek Bertocci, CFO, both of

Laserscope, [phone]; or Investors, Tricia Ross, [phone], or

General Inquiries, Laurie Berman, [phone], both of Financial Relations

Board, for Laserscope



Web site:  http://www.laserscope.com/ 

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