Trimedyne, Inc. Announces Issuance of Important New U.S. Patent

LAKE FOREST, CA--(Marketwire - February 17, 2009) - TRIMEDYNE, INC. (OTCBB: TMED) today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,492,987, covering an improvement in Side Firing Laser Fibers, which increases the tissue vaporization rate and durability of the Fiber.

This important invention is one of several innovative technological advances incorporated in the new DuraMAX™ Side Firing Fiber developed by Trimedyne. This new Fiber will be marketed by Boston Scientific Corporation in the U.S. and Japan and by Lumenis, Ltd. of Yokneam, Israel, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of medical lasers, throughout the rest of the world.

Marketing of the new Fiber by Boston Scientific and Lumenis is expected to commence when Boston Scientific completes its audit of Trimedyne’s manufacturing facility and quality system. While we anticipate the audit will commence shortly, Boston Scientific has not advised us when they will begin the audit, which is expected to take 4 to 5 months.

The new Fiber will be marketed by Boston Scientific and Lumenis for use with Lumenis’ Holmium Lasers for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, commonly called an enlarged prostate. BPH affects about 50% of men over age 55 and an increasing percentage of men as they grow older. About 1.2 million procedures to treat this condition are performed each year throughout the world.

The new Fiber provides both a high tissue vaporization rate and a long lifetime. Competitive Side Firing Fibers used with Holmium or KTP Lasers to treat BPH often prematurely fail before the laser procedure is completed.

The laser procedure to treat BPH is typically performed on an outpatient basis and reduces hospitalization and the risks and adverse effects of the surgical procedure, which entails significant bleeding, as well as impotence and incontinence. As a result, adoption of the laser procedure by physicians and patients is growing.

Trimedyne will also market a Side Firing Laser Fiber employing the new technology under its VaporMAX® trademark for use with its Holmium Lasers to treat BPH. The new technology is also employed in Trimedyne’s Side Firing Laser Needles, which are used with Trimedyne’s Holmium Lasers to treat herniated or ruptured discs in the spine (lumbar, thoracic or cervical), usually on an outpatient basis, as an alternative to conventional spinal surgery.

In published clinical studies, Trimedyne’s Side Firing Laser Needles used with Trimedyne’s Holmium Lasers had an 84% to 95% success rate in the treatment of herniated or ruptured discs, compared to success rates of only 40% to 77% for conventional disc surgery, which entails a hospital stay of several days, considerable bleeding and pain, the risk of general anesthesia and a lengthy recuperation period, including weeks or months of physical therapy.

Trimedyne manufactures proprietary Holmium lasers and patented, disposable and reusable fiber optic laser energy delivery devices. For product, financial and other information, visit our website, http://www.trimedyne.com.

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Statements in this news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, including words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “may,” “could” and others. Such statements may involve various risks and uncertainties, some of which may be discussed in the Company’s current 10-KSB Report and other SEC reports. There is no assurance such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.