AngioDynamics Comments On Patent Infringement Lawsuit Related To ELVS
QUEENSBURY, N.Y., Tuesday, January 23, 2004 – AngioDynamics, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of E-Z-EM, Inc. (Amex: EZM) today announced that Diomed, Inc., a subsidiary of Diomed Holdings, Inc., has filed a lawsuit against the Company in the federal district court in Massachusetts alleging patent infringement related to AngioDynamics' ELVS™ endovascular laser venous system. This system is used for the treatment of severe varicose veins.
The suit involves a single patent, Number 6,398,777, covering the endovascular laser treatment of varicose veins.
“The Company has analyzed the Diomed patent, and has a written opinion of non-infringement from outside patent counsel,” said Eamonn Hobbs, president and chief executive officer of AngioDynamics. “We believe our ELVS product does not infringe the Diomed patent, and we intend to vigorously defend this action.”
About ELVS
The ELVSä endovascular laser venous system is a patient friendly, minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of severe varicose veins. The ELVS procedure, which lasts about 45 minutes, offers patients an effective out-patient alternative to surgical ligation and vein stripping. The Company markets and sells the ELVS system throughout the United States.
About AngioDynamics
AngioDynamics, Inc. (www.angiodynamics.com) is a leading supplier of products used by interventional radiologists and other physicians for the minimally invasive diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of peripheral vascular disease.
About E-Z-EM
E-Z-EM, Inc. (www.ezem.com) is a leading supplier of products used by radiologists, gastroenterologists and speech language pathologists for the diagnostic imaging of diseases and disorders of the GI tract, ranging from swallowing disorders (dysphagia) to colorectal cancers. E-Z-EM also is a third-party contract manufacturer of diagnostic contrast media, pharmaceuticals, non-prescription healthcare products, and defense decontaminants.
ELVS is a trademark of Biolitec Inc.
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 outcome of the Diomed patent litigation, as well as the risk factors listed from time to time in the SEC filings of E-Z-EM, Inc., including but not limited to its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 29, 2003, as well as its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2003, may affect the actual results achieved by the Company.