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Patent Granted on New Retractable Needle Therapy

Document date: Mon 03 Feb 2003 Published: Mon 03 Feb 2003 13:03:00
Document No: 151137 Document part: A
Market Flag: Y
Classification: Progress Report - Other
OCCUPATIONAL & MEDICAL INNOVATIONS LIMIT 2003-02-03 ASX-SIGNAL-G

HOMEX - Brisbane

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Occupational & Medical Innovations Limited (OMI) has been granted an
international patent on it's new retractable syringe, called the X3.
The X3 is complementary to the existing OMI retractable syringe and
has been specifically designed to target the extensive third-world
immunisation & needle exchange markets.

The X3 is used in exactly the same way as a standard syringe. At the
bottom of the stroke, the X3 retracting mechanism retracts the needle
automatically, without any other manipulation by the user. After
breaking away from its base, the needle is then locked inside the
barrel of the syringe, rendering the user safe from potential injury
and the syringe impossible to re-use.

A key feature of the X3 is that it contains only three moulded parts,
including the cap. Most standard syringes have at least five moulded
parts. The small number of components means that the complexity and
expense of robotic machinery currently used to assemble syringes may
be significantly reduced. It is anticipated that the cost of
manufacture of the X3 retractable syringe may be less than the cost
of a standard syringe.

The X3 will be available in 0.3mL & 0.5mL sizes.

The X3 was developed by OMI over the last twelve months, with the
International Patent applications only recently published. Patent
searches have revealed no similar technologies in retractable
syringes. OMI hopes to allow the X3 to closely follow OMI's original
1mL retractable syringe onto the market by the end of 2003.

The X3 is the second retractable syringe developed by OMI. The
Company's original syringe generated considerable interest amongst
health professionals when it was announced, and OMI is negotiating
with potential manufacturers to bring the product to market.

OMI is also concentrating on getting its Safety Scalpel & Needle-Free
Access Valve onto the market. This follows the signing of
distribution agreements for both products. Personna Medical, a
division of the American Safety Razor Company will distribute the
Safety Scalpel throughout North America, while B.Braun Australia will
supply the Needle Free Access Valve to the Australasian market.
Further domestic & international distribution agreements are
currently being negotiated for both products.

The development of the X3 is part of the Company's policy of
continuing to develop innovative products to add to its growing
product portfolio.

Bruce Kiehne
MANAGING DIRECTOR

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