SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 18 /PRNewswire/ — Molecular Devices
today announced that European Patent Office (EPO) has upheld
Molecular Devices foundational planar patch-clamp patent (EP No 1
040 349 B1).  The board will issue a written decision to this
effect in the near future. The ruling will be the final
determination of the EPO and cannot be appealed.  

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“Molecular Devices is extremely pleased that the European Patent
Office will uphold our planar patch-clamp patent,” said Mark Verheyden, President of Molecular
Devices, Inc. “This planar patch clamp patent is one of several
that are of strategic importance to our automated electrophysiology
business. The innovation that went into these patents enables the
development of next generation automated electrophysiology
platforms, such as the IonWorks Barracuda™ High-Speed
Automated Patch Clamp System.”

The ruling recognizes Molecular Devices novel application of
using an electric field to position and seal cells for
electrophysiological measurement on a planar substrate. This
capability has revolutionized the way pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies screen new chemical entities against ion
channel targets implicated in diseases such as, hypertension,
cardiac arrhythmias, cystic fibrosis, immune disorders, and
pathological pain.

The European Patent was originally filed with the EPO on 28 July 1998 and granted on

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