IRIDEX Granted U.S. Patent for MicroPulse(TM) Technology - A Fine Dose Control Technology Enabling Tissue Sparing Eye Surgeries With Visible Lasers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug 18, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- IRIDEX Corporation (Nasdaq: IRIX) today announced the receipt of issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,771,417, titled "Laser System with Short Pulse Characteristics And Its Method Of Use." This patent applies to the company's MicroPulse(TM) technology which provides the ophthalmologist with fine dose control of laser energy during eye surgery. Ophthalmologists are using MicroPulse technology to treat patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy and other sight-threatening retinal and glaucoma disorders. Treatments using MicroPulse technology demonstrate favorable outcomes and significantly less damage to healthy retinal structures compared to traditional continuous wave laser treatment.

"MicroPulse technology enables Tissue Sparing Photocoagulation, a controlled laser dosing approach which induces the long-term benefits of laser procedures with no detectable tissue damaging side effects," commented Theodore A. Boutacoff, President and CEO. "The company has developed this technology over a number of years using infrared laser systems and its clinical efficacy has been reported in over 45 peer reviewed publications. Extending our MicroPulse technology from our infrared laser systems to our visible laser systems and being granted a patent to protect this proprietary technology for visible laser systems is important because the majority of lasers sold today are visible wavelength laser systems."

source: Iridex