JENA, Germany, February 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Occlutech GmbH, the leading
European manufacturer of coronary occlusion devices today announced that it
has obtained approval for its IP position in relation to patents held by
AGA Medical Inc. from AIPPI, the European International Association for the
Protection of Intellectual Property.

    AIPPI is the world's leading non-government organization for research
into and protection of intellectual property, and is a respected source for
opinions and arbitration on IP matters such as patent interpretation and
the use of IP in unfair competition.

    In patent infringement litigation filed in Germany by AGA Medical Inc.
in 2006, AGA argued and got the courts approval for a broad interpretation
of its granted patent claims. During the original grant procedure, however,
the Examiners of the European Patent Office did not accept the broad scope
of the claims. This created significant reason for Occlutech to appeal the
first instance district court's decision that Occlutech literally infringe
the AGA patent in Germany and to initiate non-infringement proceedings in
several other European countries. Occlutech asked AIPPI for an independent,
clarifying opinion which now further supports Occlutech's position.

    In a statement Robert Moszner, CEO of Occlutech GmbH said: "We are very
pleased with the opinion of AIPPI. In addition to several expert opinions,
it strongly supports our view that we are not infringing the patent brought
forward by AGA Medical. We have developed a unique technology that is
surrounded by its own strong intellectual property and we look forward to
having our position confirmed in European and U.S. National courts."

    Occlusion devices are used to treat structural heart disease, including
structural heart defects and abnormalities such as Atrial Septal Defects,
(ASD), and Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) - an undesired channel between the
hearts two atria that is present in up to 25% of the population - in a
minimally invasive, non-surgical way. The market for PFO occluders in
particular is expected to expand significantly as the link between PFO and
strokes, as well as severe migraine, becomes increasingly well-documented.

    Occlutech develops and manufactures a wide range of occluders that are
sold under the Occlutech Figulla brand in over 40 countries in European and
international markets. Clinical programs leading to regulatory approval in
the US and Japan are also underway.



    Contact:

    Robert Moszner
    e-mail:robert.moszner@occlutech.com
    Phone: +49-3641-67-51-20

    Susanne Goransson
    e-mail: info@occlutech.info
    Phone: +46-704336521

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