Carl Zeiss Meditec and IMRA America Cooperate in New Technology for Laser Vision Correction

ANN ARBOR, Mich. / JENA, Germany, April 25,2007 —

Prior to the annual ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) meeting, which will be held in San Diego, CA starting April 27, German Medical Company, Carl Zeiss Meditec (CZM, Jena, Germany, Chairman and CEO: Ulrich Kraus) announced that they plan to launch the newly developed VisuMax™ system for laser keratome applications in the second half of 2007. The VisuMax uses a femtosecond fiber laser developed by IMRA America, Inc. (IMRA, Ann Arbor, Michigan, President: Takashi Omitsu). IMRA America, Inc. is a U.S. Research and Development company owned by Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Kariya City, Japan, President: Yasuhito Yamauchi).

LASIK (Laser Assisted In-situ Keratomileusis) is the most common procedure for surgical vision correction. The procedure consists of two main surgical steps, the initial cut of a corneal lamella, the so-called flap, and the subsequent excimer laser ablation, the actual correction of the refractive error. The global installed base of excimer lasers is estimated at more than 5,000 units.

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance to market the laser keratome applications of its VisuMax femtosecond laser system at the end of last year.

The VisuMax system from Carl Zeiss Meditec uses the IMRA femtosecond fiber laser technology, called FCPA μJewel™. According to Dr. Martin Wiechmann, Director of R&D at Carl Zeiss Meditec, "The VisuMax system is designed to offer greater reliability and accuracy for both patients and surgeons due to its accurate optical system and highly controlled fiber laser inside."

“We are very pleased with Carl Zeiss Meditec’s vote of confidence in IMRA and take this trust seriously,” stated Takashi Omitsu, President of IMRA. “With the backing of our parent company, Aisin, and with our proven track record of providing high quality lasers based upon our patented and proprietary technologies, we feel ready to meet the challenges and help CZM meet their goals in this exciting market area.”

Both companies have spent several years working together to develop this product. The VisuMax system, which incorporates IMRA’s advanced femtosecond fiber laser technology and Carl Zeiss’ world-renowned optics technology, should expand the laser vision correction market due to increased procedure safety and the trusted Carl Zeiss brand.

      
Laser keratome surgical system VisuMax™              Femtosecond fiber laser FCPA μJewel™

About IMRA America, Inc.
Founded in 1990, IMRA America, Inc., headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., is a global-acting company dedicated to being the leader in the development of ultrafast fiber laser technologies for commercial applications. IMRA’s turnkey fiber lasers with their compact size, high stability and maintenance-free operation, are ideal optical pulse sources for: material processing, semiconductor inspection and repair, homeland security, instrumentation, medical diagnostics and therapy, and telecommunications. They are based on IMRA’s proprietary fiber oscillator, fiber amplifier, and advanced pulse compressor technologies, documented in over 80 U.S. patents and patent applications and many more worldwide. In addition to delivering innovation through its products, IMRA America offers its technologies through patent and technology licensing. For information, visit www.imra.com or call (734) 930-2560.

For more information, please contact:
Kiyomi Monro
IMRA America, Inc. 1044 Woodridge Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Phone: (734) 930-2594
e-mail: lasers@imra.com

About Carl Zeiss Meditec

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE 0005313704) is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies. This market position is based on over 160 years of experience in optical innovation. The company has two primary areas of activity: In the field of ophthalmology Carl Zeiss Meditec offers integrated solutions for treating the four main eye diseases: vision defects (refraction), cataracts, glaucoma and retinal disorders. The company’s system solutions are employed in all phases of the disease management, from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up. In the field of neuro and ENT surgery, Carl Zeiss Meditec is the world’s leading provider of surgical microscopes and microsurgical visualisation solutions for a very broad range of applications, such as tumor and vascular surgery in the head region and/or spinal surgery. Carl Zeiss Meditec's medical technology portfolio is rounded off by visualisation systems for doctors in private practice and promising future technologies such as intraoperative radiation therapy, which allows the targeted treatment of breast cancer and brain cancer directly during surgery.

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG is based in Jena, Germany, with subsidiaries in Germany (Carl Zeiss Meditec Surgical GmbH and Carl Zeiss Meditec Vertriebsgesellschaf mbH), the USA (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin California), in Japan (Carl Zeiss Meditec Co., Ltd., Tokyo), Spain (Carl Zeiss Meditec Iberia S.A., Madrid) and France (Ioltech SAS, La Rochelle, and Carl Zeiss Meditec France SAS, Le Pecq).