-Gamagori, JAPAN, September 25, 2002-
NIDEK Co., Ltd. announced today its industry leadership position in patents filled and accepted by the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). 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.
"We are very pleased with this recent report from the U.S. Patent Office and these statistic clearly shows our commitment to advancing technologies in the eye care and optics industries" stated Hideo Ozawa, President of NIDEK Co., Ltd. "NIDEK has over the last 30+ years, focused it's efforts on developing new and innovative products and it's intellectual property portfolio is very strong. We are very pleased to have won the top position 5-years running among all companies in the patent category 351, which is the main category for ophthalmic technologies", added Mr. Ozawa.
NIDEK also stated that with over 47 new applications for patents in process with the USPTO, it is confident that it will continue to lead, develop and drive technology advancements in the eye care and optics industries. Additionally, with respect to Patent Category 606 (Surgical Instruments), NIDEK announced that it has the largest number of new patents issued among eye care, refractive and ophthalmic companies. "Again, this clearly shows our ongoing commitment to the vision care industry, it's doctors and patients", added Mr. Ozawa.
* Source: Ranking of corporations by corporate owned new patents in patent category 351 Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and Correction - United State Patent & Trademark Office
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Kan Ohtsuki
Senior Manager, Legal and Regulatory Affairs Division
Phone: +81 533 67-8828
Fax: +81 533 67-6628
Email: kan_ohtsuki@nidek.co.jp
