ADDITIONAL EPI-LASIK PATENT GRANTED IN USMedical technologies...

ADDITIONAL EPI-LASIK PATENT GRANTED IN US
Medical technologies group Norwood Abbey Ltd [ASX:NAL] advises that the US Patent Office has
granted an additional patent of the Norwood EyeCare patent portfolio, relating to Epi-LASIK refractive
surgery. The Epi-LASIK procedure enables laser corrections to the eye without needing to make a
cut through the eye. The removal of the need for a ‘stromal cut’ (through the eye) is seen as a major
advance over the most commonly performed procedure known as LASIK.
The patent is numbered US Patent No. 7,156,859 and titled “Device for Separating the Epithelium
Layer from the Surface of the Cornea of an Eye”.
Overall, the patent which has a substantial number of individual claims, covers the concept of a
device designed to ‘collect’ or ‘capture’ the separated epithelium layer as it is separated from the
cornea of the eye.
The patent is related to a mechanical device to at least partially separate a portion of an epithelial
material of a cornea from the cornea and comprising both a ‘means for separating at least partially
said portion of said epithelial material from said cornea; and a rotating drum positioned relative to said
separator so as to be able to receive said separated portion of said epithelial material from said
means for separating’.
In addition, the patent covers a device that separates at least partially and receives at least partially a
portion of an epithelial material of a cornea from said cornea, the device comprising both a ‘means for
separating at least partially said portion of said epithelial material from said cornea; and a movable
surface that is movable relative to said means for separating and is positioned so as to be able to
receive said separated portion of said epithelial material’.
The inventors are Dr Ioannis Pallikaris and Dr Harilaos Ginis and the patent has been granted to FOS
Holdings S.A.
Norwood Abbey has an exclusive license over the technology.
The Company is continuing discussions in relation to potential collaboration/partnering arrangements
in respect of Norwood’s EyeCare technology.
To find out more about the Norwood group, visit www.norwoodabbey.com and
www.norwoodeyecare.com
For further information please contact:
Lula Liossi
Corporate Communications Manager
Norwood Abbey Ltd
+61-3-9770-0063