Press Release

Hatch Medical Licenses Sharps Safety Technology from Yale University

Atlanta, Georgia - Medical device incubator and technology brokerage firm, Hatch Medical, L.L.C. (www.hatchmedical.com) today announced it has signed an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Yale University for its sharps safety technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Hatch Medical and Michael Wysoki, M.D., will create a joint venture to develop and market this unique vascular access technology to the medical device industry.

Dr. Wysoki's device incorporates proprietary technology and design elements intended to improve upon the overall safety, accuracy and simplicity of vascular access. As a result, it is ideally suited to address the needs of physicians performing procedures that access the vascular system through minimally invasive endovascular techniques. In 2001, it has been estimated that over 6.5 million procedures requiring vascular access will be performed in the United States alone.

"This technology fits perfectly into our portfolio of vascular access products, and is certain to attract significant industry interest given the increased attention devoted to sharps safety and the protection of healthcare workers now that the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act became law in November 2000", commented Paul Gianneschi, President and CEO of Hatch Medical. "The Act mandates stricter OSHA standards and requires hospitals to use medical devices that help reduce worker injuries and illness caused by needlesticks and sharps injuries. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 600,000 to 800,000 injuries from needlesticks and other hospital sharps occur every year. As we further develop this exciting technology Hatch Medical will seek to identify industry partners which would have an interest in licensing or distributing this novel device."

Michael Wysoki, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Diagnostic Radiology at the Yale University School of Medicine commented, "Hatch Medical is an ideal partner to develop this technology, as their expertise and experience in vascular devices is unmatched. I look forward to taking an active role in the development and commercialization of this novel technology and truly believe it will alter what is now considered to be the standard of care in vascular access."

Hatch Medical jointly develops and brokers minimally invasive medical devices for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular and oncological disease through its network of product development experts. Hatch Medical team members include intellectual property and transactional attorneys, biomedical engineers, regulatory affairs consultants, marketing and business development executives, medical device manufacturers, university teaching hospitals and leading physicians.

Through Hatch Medical's unique risk-sharing program, product development team members exchange services and resources for equity in physician conceived projects. This structure enables the physician inventor to benefit from the services of industry experts without paying upfront costs or out-of-pocket expenses, while maintaining meaningful equity.

For additional information on Hatch Medical, L.L.C. products and services, e-mail the company at info@hatchmedical.com. This release and additional news about Hatch Medical can be obtained by visiting the company's web site at http://www.hatchmedical.com, contact Paul Gianneschi, President and CEO, 770-982-6306, or Steve Hvozda, Executive Vice President, Business Development 404-982-9994

Hatch Medical, L.L.C.
8750 Islesworth Court
Duluth, GA 30097
Phone: 770-476-9940
Facsimile: 770-476-7740
info@hatchmedical.com