-Fremont, USA, October 31, 2002-
NIDEK Inc. announced today that it has received FDA approval for its Windows®-based operating system and a new, state of the art, intraoperative eye tracking device for the NIDEK EC-5000 Excimer Laser System. The NIDEK EC-5000 Excimer Laser System is approved for commercial distribution in the U.S. for LASIK and PRK for myopia with or without astigmatism. The Windows® operating system and two-beam infrared eye tracker are also key elements of NIDEK's future developments of NAVEX (NIDEK Advanced Vision Excimer Laser) customized ablation platform for refractive surgery.
The Windows® operating system, in use internationally for several years, enhances the utility of current laser functions, and will provide a reliable platform for the addition of new laser features as they become available. "The powerful, user-friendly Windows® operating system offers improved patient data management and permits the use of successive procedures", stated Hiroshi Okada, Vice President and General Manager, NIDEK, Inc. "Our new CCD camera eye tracker system constantly monitors the position of the patient's undilated pupil and is not affected by instruments passing in and out of the surgical field. The tracker works by iris detection and two infrared beams. Some of the key features of the new eye tracking system include, both active and passive tracking of the eye. The eye tracking system doesn't require pre-tracking and pre-imaging of the patient eyes, unlike other eye trackers in the marketplace. You can choose where to centrate the tracker. The Windows® operating system also allows you to image the tracked eye and separately the treated eye. Future applications for this eye tracker include cyclotorsion tracking and registration. The eye tracker's accuracy is ideally suited to NIDEK's unique scanning slit technology and will be integrated into the future investigational studies of the NIDEK NAVEX Platform".
NIDEK has a strong and robust intellectual property portfolio of its own and will continue to protect it, as it has done in the past and leverage it to develop new and innovative applications and technologies in the field of vision care. A recent report and ranking of companies by the United States Patent and Trademark Office further underscores NIDEK's commitment to these principles. For five year's running (1997 to 2001), NIDEK has claimed the number one position in a list of over 100+ companies in the Patent Category 351 Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and Correcting. NIDEK announced that the USPTO had issued 65 patents to NIDEK Co., Ltd over the last 5 years. The second place company had 34 patents issued during the same time period.
Contact: Mr. Mitsutoshi Amano
Title: Manager, Corporate Planning
Phone: +81-533-67-6753
Fax: +81-533-67-6610
Email: mitsutoshi_amano@nidek.co.jp
