Medis El files for new patents.

TEL AVIV, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 1996--Medis El Ltd. (NASDAQ: MDSLF) today announced that it had filed for patents for a synchronous twin reciprocating piston apparatus.

The Medis invention creates a revolutionary linear compressor. It is composed of a piston which moves back and forth on air bearings in a cylinder under the influence of an electromagnetic field in one direction and a rebalancing spring force in another. The linear compressor has only clearance seals and has no rotating parts. As a result, there is minimal dissipation of energy so that the compressor creates relatively little heat and there is little wear in the system. The compressor is highly efficient and is expected to have a very long life, as much as tens of thousands of hours of maintenance free use. Medis anticipates that its manufacturing cost will be competitive with the cost of making current compressors.

One of the envisaged uses is for cryo-coolers working in the sterling cycle. In that use, the compressor operates using helium, a natural gas found in the atmosphere. It does not require freon or other gases that create environmental problems by depleting the ozone or have a negative greenhouse effect.

"We expect this newly designed product to make a valuable contribution in areas where compressors or pumps are used; for example, in diesel engines, air conditioners and refrigerators," said Robert K. Lifton, chairman of Medis El. "We think it will be particularly important in its ability to create extreme cold, as low as minus 200 degrees Celsius. This makes it valuable for military use in IR systems for missiles, tanks and other applications.

"It is also expected to be useful in creating extreme cold for Cryosurgery where the cancerous or benign tumors are frozen in situ such as in brain, prostate and liver operations. The equipment presently being used is expensive and complex to use and utilizes liquid nitrogen for freezing. A linear sterling cycle cryogenic compressor will enable construction of more efficient and safer equipment. This technology may also be helpful to dermatologists for removing facial and body growths by freezing them."

Medis has built several prototypes of its invention as technology demonstrators. It has designed fully working models which it expects to have ready within five months. The company contemplates manufacturing the compressor for certain applications and licensing the patent for other applications.

Medis El is engaged in developing and using advanced technology in the medical and related fields. In addition to the new compressor, it manufactures the CellScan and the Neuritor. The CellSCan is a multiparameter laser based cytometer which has the unique capacity precisely and repeatedly to measure fluorescence, intensity and polarization of individual living cells and facilitate kinetic analysis in heterogenous cell populations. It is used for physiologic, clinical and diagnostic investigations of cells. The Neuritor is an advanced low cost, digital high quality 16 channel EEG system which integrates compact design and true portability with the operational features of larger more expensive systems.

CONTACT: Medis El Ltd.

Robert K. Lifton, 212/935-8484