Conceptus and Olympus Sign Agreement to Support Essure Introduction in United States.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

SAN CARLOS, Calif. & MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2002

Conceptus, Inc. (Nasdaq:CPTS), developer of the non-incisional permanent birth control procedure Essure(TM), and Olympus America Inc. have concluded a Marketing Alliance agreement to support the introduction of the Essure Permanent Birth Control System in the United States. This agreement gives Olympus the exclusive rights to supply hysteroscopy and video endoscopy equipment for use by Conceptus in the training of U.S. surgeons on the Essure product.

"We are very pleased to partner with Olympus as we begin the process of establishing Essure as the standard of care for Permanent Birth Control for women," said Steve Bacich, President and CEO of Conceptus. "Olympus is well known for high quality endoscopy and hysteroscopy imaging products, and the level of support they have pledged to our training and field support personnel will allow us to completely focus on our mission of bringing Essure to U.S. women."

The two-year agreement gives Olympus exclusive rights to provide equipment for use at all U.S. training sessions for Essure as well as to equip the Conceptus field team with endoscopy equipment. Conceptus will feature Olympus equipment in all marketing activities, training courses and materials as well as in all U.S. medical meetings.

"This agreement provides a tremendous opportunity for Olympus to participate in one of the most significant advances in hysteroscopy in the last 50 years. This is also a prime example of how Olympus, as a leader in the field of endoscopy, continues to pioneer imaging technology solutions in the healthcare arena," said Matt Fahy, Director of Marketing for Surgical Products at Olympus America. "Combined with the Essure treatment solutions being introduced by Conceptus and working in conjunction with the leading gynecologic surgeons and healthcare centers in the U.S., we believe we can make a positive impact on a leading issue in women's healthcare."

A Need for New Permanent Birth Control

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, surgical tubal ligation continues to be the most prevalent form of birth control in the U.S, with 41 percent of women age 35 - 39 and 50 percent of women age 40 - 44 choosing surgical tubal sterilization. Surgical tubal ligation remains the most popular form of birth control worldwide despite the fact that it is invasive and costly. About 93 percent of the laparoscopic female sterilization procedures in the U.S. are performed in a hospital or surgi-center under general anesthesia, requiring four to six days before returning to regular activities.

About Essure

Essure deploys a soft micro-insert into the fallopian tube through the cervix using a minimally invasive transcervical tubal access catheter. Once in place, the device is designed to elicit tissue growth in and around the micro-insert to form an occlusion or blockage in the fallopian tube. An Essure procedure does not require cutting or penetrating the abdomen and can be performed in a less costly procedure setting without general anesthesia. Accordingly, a woman is expected to return home about 45 minutes after the procedure is completed.

About Conceptus

Conceptus, Inc. developed and markets Essure, an innovative medical device designed to provide a non-incisional alternative to tubal ligation, which is the leading form of birth control worldwide. The availability of Essure in the U.S. is expected to open up a market currently occupied by surgical tubal ligation and vasectomy, which combined account for over 1 million procedures annually in the United States.

The Essure procedure is based on a unique and proprietary implant and catheter delivery system for minimally invasive transcervical tubal access. Additional information about Conceptus and the Essure procedure is available at www.conceptus.com.

About Olympus

Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a global leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing optical-digital product solutions for health care and consumer segments. The company leverages R&D investment in technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines that include:

-- minimally invasive diagnostic and surgical endoscopes;

-- advanced clinical and research microscopes;

-- chemistry-immuno analyzers and lab automation systems; and

-- digital and film cameras, and digital voice recorders.

In the U.S. and Canada, Olympus America Inc. serves health care, scientific and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial and other service offerings and is the leading brand in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. The company's market-leading consumer camera products and services business spans North and South America. Olympus America Inc. works collaboratively with its customers and parent company to develop state-of-the-art products and services that are innovative, intelligent, and easy to use. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements, the accuracy of which is necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties. The results of product development program and clinical efficacy of and market demand for our product, among other matters discussed in this release, may differ significantly from the discussion of such matters in the forward-looking statements. Such differences may be based upon factors within the Company's control, such as strategic planning decisions by management and re-allocation of internal resources, or on factors outside of the Company's control, such as decisions by regulatory authorities, scientific advances by third parties and introduction of competitive products, as well as those factors set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.