Trimedyne Reports Important Patent Office Actions

Business Wire, March 4, 1999

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 1999--TRIMEDYNE INC. (Nasdaq/NMS: TMED) Thursday announced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") has completed the re-examination of Trimedyne's U.S. Patent on the use of a laser or any other therapeutic device on the heart which is synchronized with the patient's electrocardiogram ("ECG"). The Patent was reissued without change on March 2, 1999.

This patent is exclusively licensed to Trimedyne's 90% owned subsidiary, Cardiodyne Inc.

Trimedyne asked the USPTO to re-examine this patent after an extensive search of the literature, commissioned by Trimedyne, uncovered two publications that had not been considered by the USPTO before the original patent was granted. The USPTO found the two publications did not affect the validity of the patent.

Separately, the USPTO has allowed more than 30 claims of Trimedyne's U.S. patent application covering its laser trans-myocardial revascularization ("TMR") system. The patent is expected to issue in a month or two and, likewise, has been exclusively licensed to Cardiodyne.

Trimedyne believes that Cardiodyne's Laser TMR System is the most advanced laser device for performing TMR. It enables channels to be made through the heart wall in one-half second or less, during diastole when the heart is momentarily at rest, between heart beats. The patent application allowed by the USPTO covers both Cardiodyne's unique, disposable ChannelMaker(TM) Catheters, which minimize or eliminate bleeding from the heart's surface, a major complication of other Laser TMR devices, and Cardiodyne's computerized AutoFire(TM) System, which automates and synchronizes the channel creation process with the patient's ECG, minimizing the risk of a potentially fatal arrhythmia (irregular, uncontrolled heartbeat).

Trimedyne is a leading manufacturer of surgical lasers located in Irvine. Trimedyne manufactures a family of Holmium and Nd:YAG lasers for use in urology, orthopedics, ENT surgery, gynecology and general surgery to treat a variety of diseases and medical conditions.

"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act: With the exception of any historical information contained in this release, the matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties that may, individually or mutually, impact the matters herein described. Such risks may be outside the control of the company, and may be detailed from time to time in the company's periodic SEC reports.