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TSO3 announces increased capabilities to sterilize lumened surgical instrumentsJuly 20, 2005Québec City, July 20, 2005 – TSO3 Inc. (“TSO3”) (TSX: TOS) expands its label claim in Canada, increasing the 125L Ozone Sterilizer’s capability to sterilize lumened surgical instruments. Lumens are the narrow internal channels, or tubes, of instruments used in minimally invasive surgical procedures. The 125L Ozone Sterilizer can now sterilize instruments with smaller internal diameters and longer lengths.“Our new claim is the broadest claim for any low temperature gaseous sterilization process on the market, allowing our 125L Ozone Sterilizer customers to process a greater variety of devices, including high demand Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) instrumentation, ophthalmic and urological devices”, says Jocelyn Vézina, CEO of TSO3 Inc. “This adds significantly to the many benefits of our technology for being simple, more economical as well as safer for the users, the patients and the environment”. Some instruments have lumens with smaller diameters and longer lengths than TSO3’s original sterility validation claims. Additional testing and validation was conducted at TSO3 to address these devices. These new lumen claims increase the diversity and volume of instruments that can be processed in the TSO3 125L Ozone Sterilizer. This is particularly important for instruments used in MIS, since the number of these procedures being conducted continues to increase exponentially. In addition, new smaller lumened devices are being developed for neuro and specialty procedures that will expand the 125L’s market capabilities. More About MIS Previously lengthy and difficult procedures now are being performed endoscopically. Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) is done through small incisions, about 2 cm, with endoscopes – long tubes the diameter of a pencil. The surgeon uses a miniature camera to see what is happening inside the patient’s body, and manipulates the surgical instruments through the lumens while looking at the image of the surgery site projected on a screen by the camera. When the surgery is complete, the incision is closed and will leave a scar that is barely visible. MIS procedures have several major advantages: it is less traumatic for the patient, causes less pain, and permits faster recovery and shorter hospitalization times. About TSO3 TSO3 Inc. is located in Québec City, Québec, Canada, and was founded in 1998. TSO3 currently has 48 employees, 19 of whom work exclusively in the Research and Development department. The Company’s mission is to develop and market innovative and comprehensive sterilization solutions. TSO3 has perfected an innovative sterilization process using ozone as the sterilizing agent. The first product based on this technological platform is the 125L Ozone Sterilizer, which is intended for hospital sterilization units. The 125L – named after its 125-litre/4.3-cubic-foot capacity – was designed to sterilize heat and moisture-sensitive surgical and diagnostic devices which are expensive and in high demand from the surgical suite. The ozone sterilization process is a safe, efficacious, fast and cost-effective response to evolving sterilization needs. To continue expanding the capabilities to process new medical instrumentation, TSO3 established the Manufacturers Testing Program to assure mutual Customers that their reusable medical instruments can be safely and repetitively processed in the 125L Ozone Sterilizer. This is accomplished through the cooperation of medical device manufacturers, material and process suppliers. The 125L Ozone Sterilizer by TSO3 was cleared for commercialization by Health Canada and more recently by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). TSO3 expects the first sales of this product in 2005. The statements in this release and oral statements made by representatives of TSO3 relating to matters that are not historical facts (including, without limitation, those regarding the timing or outcome of any financing undertaken by TSO3) are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and hypotheses, including, but not limited to, general business and economic conditions, the condition of the financial markets, the ability of TSO3 to obtain financing on favourable terms and other risks and uncertainties. The TSX has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein and accepts no responsibility for it. - 30 - Source: TSO3 Inc. Information: Caroline Côté Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Phone: (418) 651-0003, ext. 237 Email ccote@tso3.com |
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