US Patent Office Rejects 95% of Verathon Claims in Patent Case With Aircraft Medical

EDINBURGH, Scotland - On March 23, 2009 the United States Patent and Trademark
Office (”USPTO”) issued a Non-Final Action Closing Prosecution in the ongoing
re-examination of Verathon, Inc.’s United States Patent Number 6,543,447.
Aircraft Medical, Ltd. filed the request for the re-examination of this
patent in 2006 following litigation (currently on hold) that Verathon
initiated against Aircraft.

The new Action from the USPTO has rejected 393 claims that
Verathon introduced during the re-examination procedure on grounds that they
had impermissibly enlarged the scope of the patent. The remaining 19 claims
that have been characterized as “patentable” have been substantially limited
in scope compared to the original claims. This is not a final decision and
Aircraft believes that the decision to uphold these limited remaining claims
will be overturned on appeal.

Aircraft believes that this severe limiting of the claims
represents a significant setback for Verathon and that the USPTO’s
characterization of even the remaining claims as “patentable” will be
reversed in further proceedings. Aircraft maintains its position that none of
its products fall within either the original or amended claims of Verathon’s
US Patent Number 6,543,447.

Background

Aircraft Medical is the manufacturer of the McGrath(R) Series
5, the world’s first fully portable video laryngoscope. Its compactness, and
a cable free design, means the life saving benefits of video laryngoscope
technology can fit in the pocket of a paramedic or mobile user. As a result,
it is immediately available for use in potentially life threatening cases.
The McGrath(R) Series 5 is leading the growth of the portable video
laryngoscope market with distribution in North America, Europe and
Australasia. Matt McGrath, Aircraft Medical’s CEO, was last year named “Young
Scot of the Year” by the Institute of Contemporary Scotland in recognition of
the invention of McGrath(R) Series 5 and its advancement of healthcare and
subsequent international success.

Contact:
Financial Dynamics
Jonathan Birt: +44(0)207-269-7205
John Dineen: +44(0)207-269-7205

Source: Aircraft Medical Limited

Contact: Financial Dynamics, Jonathan Birt: +44(0)207-269-7205, John Dineen: +44(0)207-269-7205