26.03.2009 – 19:31

Aircraft Medical Limited

US Patent Office Rejects 95% of Verathon Claims in Patent Case With Aircraft Medical

Edinburgh, Scotland (ots/PRNewswire)

On March 23, 2009
the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") issued a
Non-Final Action Closing Prosecution in the ongoing re-examination of
Verathon, Inc.'s United States Patent Number 6,543,447. Aircraft
Medical, Ltd. filed the request for the re-examination of this patent
in 2006 following litigation (currently on hold) that Verathon
initiated against Aircraft.

The new Action from the USPTO has rejected 393 claims that
Verathon introduced during the re-examination procedure on grounds
that they had impermissibly enlarged the scope of the patent. The
remaining 19 claims that have been characterized as "patentable" have
been substantially limited in scope compared to the original claims.
This is not a final decision and Aircraft believes that the decision
to uphold these limited remaining claims will be overturned on
appeal.

Aircraft believes that this severe limiting of the claims
represents a significant setback for Verathon and that the USPTO's
characterization of even the remaining claims as "patentable" will be
reversed in further proceedings. Aircraft maintains its position that
none of its products fall within either the original or amended
claims of Verathon's US Patent Number 6,543,447.

Background

Aircraft Medical is the manufacturer of the McGrath(R) Series 5,
the world's first fully portable video laryngoscope. Its compactness,
and a cable free design, means the life saving benefits of video
laryngoscope technology can fit in the pocket of a paramedic or
mobile user. As a result, it is immediately available for use in
potentially life threatening cases. The McGrath(R) Series 5 is
leading the growth of the portable video laryngoscope market with
distribution in North America, Europe and Australasia. Matt McGrath,
Aircraft Medical's CEO, was last year named "Young Scot of the Year"
by the Institute of Contemporary Scotland in recognition of the
invention of McGrath(R) Series 5 and its advancement of healthcare
and subsequent international success.

Contact:
    Financial Dynamics
    Jonathan Birt: +44(0)207-269-7205
    John Dineen: +44(0)207-269-7205

Contact:

Contact: Financial Dynamics, Jonathan Birt: +44(0)207-269-7205, John
Dineen: +44(0)207-269-7205