40 Early-Stage Medical Technology Companies Confirmed to Date to Present at Medtech Insight's 'In3 WEST' Investment and Partnering Conference, Feb. 23-24, Irvine, Calif.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Medtech Insight and Windhover Information have announced that 40 early-stage medical technology companies from seven different countries are confirmed to present thus far at their upcoming "Investment In Innovation (In3) WEST: A Preview of Early-Stage Medical Technology Companies" conference, being held Feb. 23-24, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Irvine in Irvine, Calif. A total of 50 innovative young medical device companies developing products for a variety of high-growth medical technology markets -- cardio/peripheral vascular, orthopedics/spine, imaging, neuro/stroke, wound management, biomaterials, drug delivery, oncology, and ophthalmology, to mention a few -- will present to an audience of the top dealmakers in the medical technology and investment communities, for purposes of funding and/or strategic partnership. E[acute accent]Presenting companies confirmed thus far include (most presenting at a Medtech Insight event for the first time; more being added regularly): ACell, AcuNetx, Advanced Imaging Systems, AerovectRx, AION Diagnostics, BioImagene, Biosan Medical, BioTHER, Brain Matters, Cardiovascular Systems, Cavitech, CleveX, Crosscart, CVAC Systems, Cytograft Tissue Engineering, Design Medical, Dialog Devices, Duke Vascular, EndoCor, Gluco Stats System, HemoBioTech, InfraScan, InnerVision Medical Technologies, IYIA Technologies, Lingualcare, MedicalCV, Minnow Medical, OtisMed, Paieon Medical, Paradigm Spine, Pathfinder Therapeutics, PhotoImmune Biotechnology, Power Paper, SpinX Technologies, SurgiFile, Symphony Medical, Tekia, Urovalve, VasoGenix Pharmaceuticals, and Vision Solutions Technologies, among others. See the Medtech Insight Web site for full event details: http://www.medtechinsight.com/in3-16.html. E[acute accent]In3 WEST will also feature tabletop exhibits and product prototypes by presenting companies during a networking dinner, and a keynote presentation by Michael Henson, general partner at MedFocus Fund and founder/CEO/chairman/board member of 16 emerging healthcare companies, titled "From Invention to Commercialization ... and Beyond." Scott Wolf, M.D., partner at Prospect Venture Partners and founder of Percardia, Cardiac Dimensions, Archus Orthopedics and Endogastric Solutions, will give the "State of Medtech Investing - 2006" presentation. E[acute accent]The event will also feature an informative, interactive panel discussion titled "The Big Company Perspective on Deal-Making," taking place Friday, Feb. 24. The high-powered panel will explore the medical device deal-making phenomenon from a number of angles, including examining what the appetite for big companies will be in the coming years; how much will deal-making remain within a company's historic technology/clinical spaces, and how much will they use it to extend beyond; how have deal-making strategies, approaches, and structures changed over the past several years; what criteria do big companies use in identifying and targeting small companies; and how have the strong IPO market and other factors affected valuations. Prominent device industry panelists include Matt Alves, VP, strategic development, at Stryker Instruments, and Stuart Foster, corporate VP, technology & discovery at Edwards Lifesciences, among others to be announced soon. The panel will be moderated by David Cassak, managing partner at Windhover Information. E[acute accent]In3 WEST co-sponsors include AdvaMed, Battelle, Business Wire, Medmarc and The Hartford, Ronald Trahan Associates, Rutan & Tucker LLP, Teledyne Medical Microsystems, The MedTech Group, and Underwriters Laboratories. E[acute accent]To register to attend In3 WEST or if your emerging company is interested in presenting, call Kristy Grimes of Medtech Insight at 480-985-9512, 888-202-5939 toll-free in the U.S., e-mail [e-mail], or visit www.medtechinsight.com. Through Jan. 23, 2006, attendees registering for the conference can save $200 off the $1,495 registration fee.

E[acute accent]About Medtech Insight

E[acute accent]Medtech Insight, a division of Windhover Information Inc., is the leading provider of business information and market intelligence for the medical technology marketplace. For more on the company's products and services, and to see the company's 2006 conference schedule, please visit www.medtechinsight.com.