Virtual Ports Receives Patent Approvals in the United States and Japan

CAESAREA, Israel, January 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Virtual Ports Ltd. announced today the receipt of three additional patents covering two of its core products: the EndoGrab™ and the EndoClear™.

Two new patents, one in the U.S. and one in Japan, cover the method, concept, and design of the EndoGrab™ device. The EndoGrab™, which has already been used in more than 10,000 laparoscopic surgeries worldwide, allows surgeons to retract internal organs and anchor them to the inside of the abdominal wall during laparoscopic procedures, reducing the number of ports, incisions and personnel required to perform the procedure. This is a significant improvement to the standard procedure, which requires several incisions in the abdominal wall in order to accommodate all the instruments required to perform laparoscopic surgery. The EndoGrab™ is currently being sold in the U.S., Europe, Japan and Korea.

The Company also received a new U.S. patent protecting the concept and mechanical design of the EndoClear™. This miniature cleaning station for the endoscope lens can be anchored to the abdominal wall so that the lens can be cleaned rapidly and efficiently without having to be removed from the abdominal cavity.

Dan Shwarzman, CEO of Virtual Ports, notes: "We are delighted with the official recognition of the Company's developments and believe that these patents, together with other applications submitted in the United States, Japan, and Europe, protect the Company's intellectual property and form a significant barrier to potential competitors looking for a solution to a well-known and familiar need."

Virtual Ports develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in laparoscopic surgery, a procedure in which surgery is performed by inserting a video camera and thin medical instruments inserted into the abdominal cavity through a number of small incisions in the abdominal wall. Virtual Ports, started in the Misgav Venture Accelerator, was established in 2006 and began marketing its products three years ago. Its customers include leading hospitals and medical centers throughout the world. The major investors in the company are The Trendlines Group, Virginia Life Science Investments LLC, and KIG.

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SOURCE Virtual Ports Ltd.