AngioDynamics Comments on Markman Ruling in VNUS Litigation.QUEENSBURY, N.Y. -- AngioDynamics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ANGO ANGO Algemene Nederlandse Gehandicapten Organisatie (Dutch: Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities) ) today announced that on November 20, 2006, United States District Court United States District Court In the U.S., any of the 94 trial courts of general jurisdiction in the federal judicial system. Each state, as well as the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, has at least one federal district court. Judge Maxine Chesney issued a Markman ruling in the first stage of the patent litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. between VNUS Medical Technologies Inc. and AngioDynamics, Inc., Vascular Solutions, Inc. and Diomed, Inc. The ruling is a preliminary step in the litigation process whereby the court interprets the claims of the asserted patents. In a lawsuit filed in 2005 in Federal District Court in San Francisco, VNUS accused the defendants of infringing four patents principally directed towards VNUS' method for treating varicose veins Varicose Veins Definition Varicose veins are dilated, tortuous, elongated superficial veins that are usually seen in the legs. Description . The VNUS patents describe a procedure for treating venous disease with an electrode catheter that delivers radiofrequency (RF) energy directly to the inner wall of the vein. Eamonn P. Hobbs, president and chief executive officer of AngioDynamics, said, "These patents are clearly intended to cover VNUS' RF procedures only. By pursuing a claim construction that covers forms of energy other than RF, we believe that VNUS has put the validity of the patents at significant risk. We strongly believe that Judge Chesney or a jury will hold that the patents are invalid and are not infringed." AngioDynamics will have opportunity to file summary judgment motions prior to the trial, which is currently scheduled for October 2007. About VenaCure The VenaCure endovascular laser venous system is a patient-friendly, minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of severe varicose veins. The VenaCure procedure, which lasts about 45 minutes, offers patients an effective outpatient alternative to surgical ligation ligation /li·ga·tion/ (li-ga´shun) the application of a ligature. tubal ligation sterilization of the female by constricting, severing, or crushing the uterine tubes. and vein stripping vein stripping Surgery The surgical removal of a varicose vein of the leg by ligating it–eg, the great saphenous vein and its tributaries at the junction with the common femoral vein in the groin, then yanking it, which pops off the collaterals, 'stripping' . The Company markets and sells the VenaCure laser system throughout the United States. About AngioDynamics AngioDynamics, Inc. is a leading provider of innovative medical devices used by interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons and other physicians for the minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of peripheral vascular disease Peripheral Vascular Disease Definition Peripheral vascular disease is a narrowing of blood vessels that restricts blood flow. It mostly occurs in the legs, but is sometimes seen in the arms. . AngioDynamics, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad line of therapeutic and diagnostic devices that enable interventional physicians, such as interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons and others, to treat peripheral vascular diseases and other non-coronary diseases. The Company's diverse product line includes angiographic products and accessories, dialysis products, vascular access products, PTA PTA or parent-teacher association: see parent education. products, drainage products, thrombolytic thrombolytic /throm·bo·lyt·ic/ (throm?bo-lit´ik) dissolving or splitting up a thrombus, or an agent that so acts. thrombolytic 1. dissolving or splitting up a thrombus. 2. an agent that dissolves or splits up a thrombus. products and venous products. More information is available at www.angiodynamics.com. The statements made in this document contain certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words such as "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," or variations of such words and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations. In addition to the matters described above, the ability of the Company to develop its products, future actions by the FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. or other regulatory agencies, results of pending or future clinical trials, overall economic conditions, general market conditions, market acceptance, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, the effects on pricing from group purchasing organizations and competition, as well as the risk factors listed from time to time in the SEC filings of AngioDynamics, Inc., including but not limited to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 3, 2006, may affect the actual results achieved by the Company. |
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