IRIDEX Granted U.S. Patent for Stepped Angled Laser Handpieces Used in Eye Surgery (IRIX)

IRIDEX Corporation IRIX today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had issued to IRIDEX a patent applying to a group of specially designed laser handpieces used in invasive ophthalmic surgical procedures. The patent, No. 7,909,816 and titled "Directional Probe Treatment Apparatus," applies to a number of consumable medical devices already in the IRIDEX product line collectively known as Stepped Angled EndoProbe® laser handpieces. "This is an important patent for us because our Stepped Angled probes are the best selling product line within our consumable product portfolio," said IRIDEX President and CEO Theodore A. Boutacoff. "Users of these handpieces consistently comment on their performance, ease of use and their longer working distance compared to competitive probes. This patent helps us further differentiate our products from our competitors and creates new barriers for competition."